"Going to be very costly for Punjab govt": Akali Dal spokesperson on Sultanpur firing incident
Nov 23, 2023
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], November 23 : Arshdeep Singh Kler, Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson slammed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over Sultanpur firing in which one policeman was killed and said that the firing incident is going to be "very costly for the Punjab government".
One police constable died while three other police personnel were injured in an exchange of fire between Sulltanpur Lodhi police and a group of Nihang Sikhs on Thursday.
Arshdeep Singh Kler said "After the 1984 Blue Star operation, it has happened for the first time that bullets have been fired at a Gurudwara in Punjab. During this time there is also the death of a policeman which is very sad. The Sikhs who came out from inside said that they had been trying to talk to the administration for the last 2 days but they were not heard. I want to ask Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is also the Home Minister of Punjab, on whose request the action was taken in Sultanpur Gurdwara and who is responsible for it."
"The dispute should have been resolved by sitting. This is going to be very costly for the Punjab government," he added.
Speaking on the death of a policeman in the firing incident, Arshdeep Singh Kaler said "It is a good thing that the government is giving compensation of 1 crore to the family of the police officer who died, but the point is that why was this opportunity given, who will be going to take the responsibility?"
The exchange of fire was a result of ongoing tension between two groups of Nihangs over control of a Gurdwara at Sulltanpur Lodhi in Pubjab's Kapurthala district.
After entering the Gurudwara, the Baba Maan Singh-led group tied Nirvair Singh with a rope while Jagjit Singh was attacked by a weapon and his ammunition, mobile phone and money were taken from him after which the group occupied the Gurdwara and other places.
The Sultanpur Lodhi Police, immediately taking action into the matter, apprehended 10 individuals associated with Baba Maan Singh's group after which the firing incident occurred.
