2 held for firing at Cong activist

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The accused in custody of the Dera Bassi police on Thursday

Dera Bassi, May 16: The police today claimed to have arrested two persons in a firing case near Mahiwala village that left Lakhwinder Singh alias Lucky, son of Block Samiti Member Roshni Devi, injured.

The arrested accused have been identified as Manish alias Bitu and Varinder Kumar alias Bitu, both residents of Kheri Gujran village, while the remaining three are still absconding. A country-made pistol used in the crime had been seized from their possession, the police said.

Mohali SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar said following the incident, Dera Bassi DSP Simranjit Singh constituted teams to nab the accused.

The SSP said they had got a tip-off that Manish and Varinder were travelling in an Alto, following which a naka was laid near Rampur Sanian, Dera Bassi.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that Lucky, a resident of Kheri Gujran village, had helped Manish’s wife in getting elected as panch of the village unanimously. It has been learnt that Lucky also used to tease Manish over this. In a fit of rage, Manish and Varinder had hatched a conspiracy and fired gunshots at him.

The police said they were conducting raids at different places to nab the other accused. The victim, Lucky, accompanied by his friend Bittu was heading back towards his village Kheri Gujran after campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday night.

When they reached near Mahiwala village, Bittu asked Lucky to stop his car as he wanted to attend nature’s call.

Sources said when the victim was waiting alone in his car, about four to five armed youths of rivalry group allegedly fired gunshots at Lucky, leaving him critically injured. A case under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act was registered at the Dera Bassi police station.

The availability of country-made pistols was also questionable, as the model code of conduct is in effect.