Ludhiana: Another Hindu group leader attacked in the city, police suspect road rage; 1 held

A man was arrested after a Hindu group leader, his brother and cousin were attacked in Chaura Bazar on Sunday, officials said.

All three suffered injuries in the attack and were rushed to a nearby hospital by onlookers.

Police suspect that the alleged attack on Rajan Rana, district president of the Shiv Sena Samajwadi vyopar (trade) wing, is a fallout of a road rage incident. Police from Division Number 3 have launched an investigation.

Police officials identified the victim’s brother as Bobby and cousin as Piyush.

This is not the first such incident. Less than two weeks ago, two assailants on bicycles had thrown a petrol bomb at the house of another Hindu group leader.

The new incident reportedly started when Rana and his family were on their way to drop off Bobby’s house after a birthday celebration.

Due to congestion at food stalls in Chaura Bazar, Piyush, who was driving, honked his horn to clear the road. However, a group of young people refused to give in. Rana said he managed to drive past but the youths intercepted them and blocked their car with a scooter.

He claimed they then attacked while he objected to the earlier hooting. He added that the suspect’s aides showed up and attacked them with weapons.

After the incident, Shiv Sena Samajwadi leaders including national president Honey Bhardwaj, national youth chief Vishal Madan and Punjab in-charge Rishabh Kannaujiya visited the injured at the civil hospital. The victims were later shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), where Rana received stitches for head injuries.

Bhardwaj and Madan sought strict action in the case and urged immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.

Inspector Amritpal Sharma of Division Number 3, Station House Officer (SHO), said the police arrested Gagan Kwatra from the spot under ‘preventive action’. He said the police are waiting for the victims to record their statements and after that a first information report (FIR) will be registered. According to the SHO, it appears to be a matter of road rage.

Police sources said they have obtained video footage of the attack and are working to identify others involved.

On October 16, two unknown assailants attacked the house of Shiv Sena (Bharatvanshi) president Yogesh Bakshi in New Chandar Nagar.