Punjab AAP leader shot at, Akali leaders booked

Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Vardev Singh Noni Mann, his brother Nardev Singh Bobby Mann and 15-20 unidentified persons were booked for attempt to murder in connection with an attack on a local Aam Aadmi Party leader in Punjab's Fazilka district, police said on Sunday.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

Aam Aadmi Party leader Mandeep Singh Brar was shot at outside the office of block development and panchayat officer in Fazilka's Jalalabad area on Saturday, they said.

Brar, who is the candidate for the post of Sarpanch from Muhammad Wala village, sustained a bullet injury in his chest.

He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Jalalabad but later shifted to Ludhiana.

AAP MLA from Jalalabad Jagdeep Kamboj alleged that Shiromani Akali Dal leader Vardev Singh Noni Mann allegedly fired at Brar.

The FIR was lodged on a complaint filed by Gurpreet Singh, who has filed his nomination for the post of Sarpanch of village Chak Suhelewala.

Gurpreet, in his complaint, alleged that he was the target of the attackers but the bullet hit Brar.

He said Vardev's son Harpinder Singh had also filed his nomination paper from Chak Suhelewala village.

Gurpreet said he had filed objections against the nomination of Harpinder. As a result Akali leaders Vardev Singh and his brother Nardev Singh and their families held a grudge against him.

According to the complainant, the Akali leaders and their supporters on Saturday allegedly pelted stones at them outside the BDPO office.

Gurpreet alleged that Vardev aimed his weapon at him but the bullet hit Brar, who was standing close to him.

According to the FIR, the case has been registered under various sections including 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema condemned the registration of a case against SAD leaders Vardev Mann and Nardev Mann.

He said both these leaders were victims as the nomination papers of their sons had been rejected but the AAP government instead of giving justice to them had filed a criminal case against them.

Elections to gram panchayats in the state will take place on October 15.