Fatehgarh Sahib, July 1: A dispute over a scooter between Nihang Sikhs, who had come to visit Hemkund Sahib near Joshimath in Uttarakhand, and a local businessman on Monday turned violent.
During the dispute, when a police officer came to intervene, he was also attacked with a sharp weapon, due to which he was injured.
According to the information, the Nihangs tried to attack the businessman with a sword, but he narrowly escaped. The police reached the spot, but by then the accused had fled.
Later, when the police stopped the Nihangs near the police station, a large number of local traders also reached there. The police took immediate action and arrested 7 Nihang Sikhs. The investigation of the case is going on.
When the police arrived, they were also attacked
The situation turned tense when it was discovered that the Nihang devotees were carrying a variety of sharp weapons, including axes, large double-edged swords, knives and axes, besides swords and daggers. A heated argument broke out between the two sides, which soon turned into a scuffle.
When the police tried to intervene, a Nihang named Amritpal allegedly attacked a senior sub-inspector with a sharp knife on his head, injuring him.
Case registered against 7 Nihangs
The police has taken action in this case and arrested 7 Nihangs. The arrested persons have been identified as Harpreet Singh, Amritpal Singh, Harpreet, Binder Singh, Garja Singh, Harjot Singh and Bhola Singh. All of them are said to be residents of Fatehgarh in Punjab. The police have also recovered sharp weapons from them.
The accused have been booked under sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 191(2) (rioting), 193(3) (responsibility of owner, occupier or sharer of land where unlawful assembly or riot takes place), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, police said. Further investigation is underway.