A violent clash between two groups of villagers in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Sunday night left four people dead and several others injured. The incident occurred at Lighanwala Chowk in Sri Hargobindpur, Batala, around 9 pm.
According to police, the two groups, comprising 13 people from village Vithwan, attacked each other with firearms and sharp weapons over a long-standing rivalry. The exact cause of the rivalry is yet to be determined.
The deceased have been identified, and an investigation is underway to apprehend those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident." Two persons from each group died in the firing, said Batala Senior Superintendent of Police Ashwini Gotyal.
The deceased have been identified as Balraj Singh, Shamsher Singh, Baljit Singh, and Nirmal Singh.
The police said eight people were injured in the incident and they have been admitted to a hospital in Amritsar.
The injured are stated to be out of danger, said the police. Multiple rounds were fired in the incident, the police, adding they recovered 30 live rounds and empty shells from the spot.
The SSP said Major Singh and the other faction by Angrej Singh led one group. Both Major and Angrej had a dispute over the distribution of water from a water channel for irrigation in their fields.
The police said both factions had a fight in the heat of the moment on Sunday night. One faction comprised nine people and another group had four people, said the SSP.
After getting information, a police patrolling team, led by the station house officer, reached the spot immediately. The vehicle of the SHO was also hit by a bullet, said the SSP.
An FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway, the police said.
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