Woman cop manhandled by Nihangs while rescuing rival group member in Amritsar
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A woman police officer was manhandled by a group of Nihang Sikhs in Amritsar on Friday night while she tried to rescue another Nihang who was being assaulted by the protesters.
The incident occurred during a blockade and sit-in protest by a group of Nihang Sikhs on Jhabal Road.
According to police, another Nihang Sikh arrived at the site on a motorcycle, after which the protesters stopped him and began assaulting him. The protesters alleged that he had been sent by the leader of a rival group to conduct reconnaissance.
On receiving information about the incident, Manjit Kaur, Station House Officer of the Gate Hakima police station, reached the spot with a police team and attempted to rescue the assaulted man.
A scuffle broke out between the protesters and the officer. Some of the Nihangs held Kaur by her collar and pushed her as she tried to take the man to safety. She persisted, and police eventually took the injured Nihang to a police vehicle and then to the police station.
The protest was linked to an ongoing rivalry between two groups of Nihang Sikhs.
The protesters alleged that they had previously been attacked and fired upon and claimed that the man who arrived on the motorcycle had been sent by Major Singh Bhindwad, the leader of the rival group, to spy on them. They also accused the police of siding with the opposing group.
SHO Manjit Kaur said the dispute was linked to vehicles passing through the area. The protesting Nihangs claimed the vehicles belonged to Major Singh. Police said the two groups have been involved in a longstanding dispute.
The protest disrupted traffic on Jhabal Road, with vehicles being diverted through alternative routes. Police personnel on duty said the protesters also used abusive language as the vehicles passed through the area.
The incident occurred a day after Assistant Sub-Inspector Harjit Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Amritsar on Thursday night while returning home after duty.