Tribune News Service
Barnala, December 29
A Station House Officer (SHO), three other policemen and some members of the SC community were injured after a clash erupted here on Wednesday. The official vehicle of the SHO was also damaged in the incident. The situation turned tense after a few locals were stopped from constructing a gurdwara on a vacant plot near the Tapa tehsil complex.
The Tapa Nagar Council authorities claimed the land belonged to the council, but the SC community members maintained they were its owners. Owing to the tense situation, senior authorities were deputed at the spot.
“The land belongs to the SC community and they want to construct a gurdwara there. But the nagar council wants to grab it. The residents protested when the police tried to remove the Nishan Sahib (religious flag). The policemen fired into the air and resorted to lathicharge, leaving them injured,” said advocate Satnam Singh Rahi, SAD candidate from Bhadaur constituency.
Residents said the clash broke out after the police opened fire. The police officials, however, maintained they went to the site only to convince the locals to vacate the land, but they started hurling stones and bricks on the police personnel.
“On the nagar council’s complaint, the police had registered an FIR a few days ago against some locals after they refused to vacate the land,” said Tapa SDM Simarpreet Kaur.
When contacted, Barnala SSP Alka Meena said: “The Tapa Nagar Council and members of the SC community have been claiming that the land belonged to them. After the community members started constructing a gurdwara on the said land, the police went there to convince them to vacate the land. But area residents started pelting stones, causing injury to Tapa SHO Gurlal Singh and three other cops. They also damaged the official vehicle of the SHO.” She said the situation was under control as they had deputed more force in the area.
“I have got information that some residents have also suffered injuries. We will conduct a probe into the issue and also register an FIR against all those who had attacked the SHO, other policemen and damaged their vehicle,” said the SSP.
Tapa Nagar Council, sc members stake claim
- Both Tapa Nagar Council and members of the SC community have been claiming ownership of the disputed land
- After the community members started constructing a gurdwara on the land, the police went there to convince them to vacate it, but they ‘attacked’ the cops, said Barnala SSP
4 policemen hurt in clash over construction on disputed land
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