In a bloody clash in Punjab, a police official's hand was chopped off and two others got grievous injuries on Sunday when a group of people attacked them in Punjab's Patiala town on being asked about curfew permission, police said.
The incident took place when restrictions are in place in the state due to the COVID-19 lockdown. According to Dinkar Gupta, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) Harjeet Singh's hand got cut off in the incident and he was immediately rushed to the PGI Chandigarh for surgery.
"They were asked to show the curfew pass. They got angered and in retaliation they attacked police personnel and government employees deployed there with sharp-edged weapons," a police official said. An Assistant Sub-Inspector's hand was chopped off, while two others sustained multiple injuries.
"In an unfortunate incident today morning, a group of Nihangs injured a few police officers and a Mandi Board official at Sabzi Mandi, Patiala. ASI Harjeet Singh whose hand got cut-off has reached PGI Chandigarh," Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta informed in a tweet.
He said he was grateful to the PGI for full support. "Director PGI tells me that surgery has already started by two senior surgeons who will do their best. All of us praying to Waheguru for his full recovery!," he added. The police have rounded up the accused from a gurdwara.
"Seven fugitives, donning the robes of Nihangs, have been arrested from Gurdwara in village Balbera. One of the suspects was injured in police firing and has been rushed to the hospital. The operation was supervised by IG Patiala Zone, Jatinder Singh Aulakh," KBS Sidhu, Punjab Special Chief Secretary said in a statement.
With a lockdown in place, barricades were put up outside the market and police personnel were regulating entry by asking for curfew passes.
