Two Farmers Killed in Muktsar Village Clash Over Irrigation Drain Dispute
A violent clash between two groups over an irrigation drain dispute at Kotbhai village in Muktsar district on Friday night resulted in the deaths of two farmers. The deceased have been identified as Nirmal Singh and Baljit Singh. Three persons from the opposite group sustained injuries and have been admitted to hospital.
Police Register Murder Case Against Seven Persons
Muktsar police have registered a murder case against seven persons in connection with the incident. According to the police, the clash erupted while an irrigation drain was being relaid to water the fields of Nirmal Singh and Baljit Singh. The watercourse passed in front of several houses, including that of Rajwinder Singh, whose family objected to its alignment and allegedly filled the trench with soil.
When the farmers attempted to clear the trench, an altercation broke out. The argument soon turned violent, with both sides allegedly using sharp-edged weapons. During the fight, Baljit Singh sustained serious injuries and collapsed. His licensed .32-bore pistol fell to the ground, which Nirmal Singh picked up and fired in self-defence, according to the police complaint.
Injuries and Details of the Attack
Rajwinder Singh, Jagsir Singh, and Darshan Singh sustained injuries in the clash. Rajwinder's brother Jabarjang Singh, his son Lovepreet Singh, Jabarjang's son Harpreet Singh, and Gurpreet Singh, son of Darshan Singh, allegedly attacked Nirmal Singh with sharp-edged weapons, as stated by Rajpreet Singh, Baljit Singh's son, in his complaint.
Rajpreet said he and others tried to intervene to save Baljit and Nirmal Singh, but were also attacked. Both injured farmers were rushed to the Gidderbaha civil hospital, where they were declared dead.
Police Action and Arrests
Gidderbaha DSP Arun Mundan confirmed that a case had been registered at Kotbhai police station against Rajwinder Singh, Jagsir Singh, Darshan Singh, Jabarjang Singh, Harpreet Singh, Lovepreet Singh, and Gurpreet Singh. "Rajwinder, Jagsir, and Darshan are admitted to hospital, while Jabarjang Singh, Harpreet Singh, and Lovepreet Singh have been arrested," he said.
The incident highlights the tensions that can arise over agricultural resources in rural areas, with police now investigating the matter further to ensure justice is served.
