Ludhiana: A group of assailants attacked three car-borne men near Isa Nagri Pulley of Old City on Monday afternoon owing to an old rivalry.
The accused intercepted the trio, vandalised their car and attacked them. Two of the victims rushed inside a nearby liquor vend to escape, but the accused followed them. The victims threw liquor bottles on the attackers, who pelted them with bricks. Later, the accused escaped from the spot and the police were informed.
The victims have been identified as Pargat Singh and his friend Indermohan Singh, both residents of Islamgunj. While they have suffered injuries, their friend Mehandi escaped unhurt.
In his statement to the police, Pargat Singh said he and his friends had gone to the district courts for the hearing of a case. He said the accused, who had also come there for the hearing of another case, started staring at them, but they ignored and left for their homes in their car.
He added that when they reached near Isa Nagri Pulley, the accused intercepted them and brandished a sharp-edged weapon. “They vandalised our car with a blunt weapon. And when we alighted, they launched an attack. Indermohan and I rushed inside a liquor vend, but the accused started throwing bricks and we retaliated with liquor bottles,” he said.
Dhrampal Sharma, a liquor vend worker, said, “Suddenly a group of people attacked a car and its occupants. Two men entered the shop and started throwing liquor bottles at the accused. I got scared and rushed out and called the police.”
Division 3 SHO inspector Jarnail Singh said accused—identified as Lotta, Saggar, Hira, Raja, Gopi, all residents of Isa Nagri and Garry of Manjit Nagar— had an old rivalry with the complainant. In June last, both groups had attacked each other and a murder bid case was also registered. The SHO added that the police were recording statements of the victims to lodge an FIR and also scanning CCTVs installed near the spot.