AAP leader injured in firing in Punjab's Jalalabad, party blames Akali Dal

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the clashes in Jalalabad, Punjab, where one person was injured in an alleged firing.

In Short

• AAP leader sustained bullet injuries to the chest
• He was set to contest the upcoming panchayat polls
• AAP accused Akali Dal of unleashing violence ahead of local polls

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was injured in a firing incident during a clash with members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Jalalabad in Punjab's Fazilka district, on Saturday.

Mandeep Singh Brar, who is an AAP candidate in the upcoming panchayat elections, sustained bullet injuries to his chest and his condition is said to be critical. The incident occurred during a meeting related to the polls.

Tarunpreet Singh Saundh, the Panchayati Raj Minister of Punjab, who visited the AAP leader in a Ludhiana hospital, said, "Brar was contesting the Sarpanch elections. When he went to the BDPO office to file his nomination, a person belonging to the Akali Dal shot him with his licenced weapon. This is a very shameful incident which we condemn".

The minister further alleged that the Akali Dal and Congress in Punjab do not want an atmosphere of peace and are intimidating anyone who supports the AAP in the Panchayat elections.

Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy, AAP's Jalalabad MLA, who was also present at the meeting where the shooting took place, said the accused had occupied Panchayat land, which was opposed by the AAP candidate, leading to the firing.

"The individual from the opposing party had illegally occupied Panchayat land, a matter that was objected to in Panchayat and was also pending in the High Court. Citing this our leader raised objections to his [Akali Dal candidate] nomination papers. When he came out, the opposition party confronted him, saying, 'Who are you to challenge our nomination?' and then shot at him," the MLA said.

Senior police officers arrived at the scene following the incident, which led to heightened tensions in the area.

Elections to 13,229 gram panchayats across Punjab will be held on October 15.