Punjab: Asked To Show Curfew Pass During Lockdown, Nihangs Chop Off ASI's Hand; 7 Arrested

A group of five armed Nihangs, who were travelling in a vehicle, were asked to stop at a vegetable market in Patiala.

Image: ANI

New Delhi: Amid the lockdown to prevent spread of Coronavirus in the country, a group of Nihangs in Punjab attacked policemen who asked them for curfew passes, and chopped off the hand of an Assistant Sub Inspector, while other policemen were injured in the attack by sword in Punjab's Patiala district on Sunday, police said. A group of five armed Nihangs, who were travelling in a vehicle, were asked to stop at a vegetable market in Patiala. "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.

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.

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) April 12, 2020

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. Seven arrested: ASI Harjeet Singh whose hand was cut-off in an attack by a group of Nihangs at Sabzi Mandi, in Patiala (Punjab) today, is undergoing surgery at PGI Chandigarh. As per Punjab Special Secreatry KBS Sidhu, 7 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Also watch full report here:  The police have rounded up the accused from a gurdwara. The ASI was rushed to the Rajindra hospital where from he was referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh. The Nihangs fled the scene after the attack, the SSP said, adding efforts are on to arrest them. The incident took place when restrictions are in place in the state because of the coronavirus outbreak.