Three Nihangs attack cigarette traders, target ‘savior’ in Kharar

The brazen and violent attack in broad daylight on the busy street was witnessed by passers-by and passing commuters, but no one intervened.

Notably, this is the second incident involving a sword attack by Nihangs in the past 48 hours.

Acting quickly, the Kharar police identified the accused within hours of the incident as Gurwinder Singh and Amanjot Singh, both residents of Khooni Majra, and Jaspreet Singh of Pamaur, Fatehgarh Sahib. Both face attempted murder charges.

Anil Verma, one of the traders attacked, said his father, a septuagenarian, was sitting in their cigarette shop adjacent to the bus stop, when three Nihangs came on a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle and slapped his father without any provocation.

“When I rushed to my father’s aid, they attacked me with sticks and sharp weapons, and snatched packets of cigarettes and beedi. ₹15,000 in cash, at the store counter. As I ran to save myself, a turbaned Sikh intervened, urging the Nihangs not to attack us. But they turned on him and attacked him with swords and other weapons, causing severe head injuries and heavy bleeding,” Verma alleged.

He said the criminals attacked two other traders and warned them not to sell tobacco products to avoid dire consequences.

Another trader, Nikhil, accused the Nihangs of causing losses in value. ₹40,000 by throwing cigarettes, beedi packets and other products from his store into the drains.

“They threatened to set our stores on fire. They had no fear of the law. We demand strict action against them,” he said.

CCTV footage from the crime scene showed three men in Nihang attire assaulting an unidentified Sikh man. The accused were seen hitting the victim’s head after his turban was thrown on the road, causing bleeding.

After being alerted, the Kharar police reached the spot, recorded the statements of the victims and took them for medical examination.

“The accused have been identified and will be arrested soon. There is no tolerance for hooligans and criminals. We also have videos showing the accused manhandling the traders and a person who intervened to rescue them. We have booked the accused for attempt to murder,” said DSP Karan Singh Sandhu.

All accused face charges under sections 115 (voluntarily causing injury to another person), 109 (attempted murder), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 305 (A) (whoever commits theft from a building , a tent or vessel used as a human habitation or used for the safekeeping of property), 3(5) (act committed by several persons) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the police station of the city ​​of Kharar.

Earlier on Wednesday, in a road rage incident, two unidentified men dressed as Nihangs attacked a 53-year-old man with swords in Stage 3B2 after ramming his car with their motorcycle.

The victim, Harpreet Singh, a resident of Sector 70, was seriously injured in the arm.

In his complaint, he had told police that the two bike-riding men rammed into his car at a red light near Chawla Hospital on Wednesday around 9:15 p.m. An argument ensues and the bikers attack his car with swords, smashing the rear windshield.

The victim tried to head towards his home by car during phase 3B2 but was followed by the attackers. They intercepted him again and hit the windshield of his car and the driver’s side window with swords, he said. However, three days later, the accused remain out of reach of the police.