2 involved in shooting at migrant labourers in Punjab's Moga held after encounter
Chandigarh (PTI): Two persons, allegedly involved in the shooting at migrant labourers in Punjab's Moga district, were arrested following an exchange of gunfire with the police there on Sunday.
Jobanpreet sustained a bullet injury in his leg following an encounter near Ghalkalan village, while his accomplice, Akashdeep, was also nabbed, said police.
Two migrant labourers were injured after three unidentified assailants on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire at a group of workers in the district on February 10.
Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Gandhi on Sunday said police had prior information about the presence of the two accused involved in the shooting incident.
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A police team intercepted Jobanpreet and Akashdeep, who were on a motorcycle, and signalled them to stop. But they opened fire at the police, said the SSP while speaking to reporters.
When police retaliated, Jobanpreet sustained a bullet injury in his leg. Akashdeep, who tried to run away, was also apprehended.
The bike used in the crime has also been recovered, said the SSP.
Two weapons, along with four empty shells and one live round, have been recovered from them. The accused fired four to five rounds at the police. However, no one from the police team sustained any injury.
Police investigation revealed that the two accused, along with their other accomplice, opened fire at the labourers on February 10, on the instructions of their foreign-based handler.
"Their motive was to disturb peace in Punjab," the SSP said, adding that two persons hailing from Ferozepur district have already been arrested for allegedly providing shelter to Jobanpreet and Akashdeep.
Another accused involved in the shooting is yet to be nabbed.
The shooting incident occurred on the Zira road when the migrant workers were going for a meal after their work at a factory. Out of three accused on the motorcycle, one opened fire, and one of them made a video of the firing incident.
After the incident, an unverified post surfaced on Instagram in which a user named Nirvair Singh claimed responsibility for the firing. The post also contained a video of the purported incident.
The unverified post claimed that the firing on people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was carried out by Ladi Bhalwan and Nirvair Singh.
The post had said the firing was carried out in an act of "protest" against these migrant workers who "spoil" the atmosphere of Punjab. It also warned of more violence if migrant workers were not driven out of villages and towns.
The post had also sought to justify the attack by referring to past crimes involving migrant workers. It warned sarpanches and panchayat members who allegedly arrange Aadhaar cards for the migrant workers, and allow them to stay for the sake of votes.
Following the February 10 incident, Opposition parties attacked the AAP government, asking the Bhagwant Mann dispensation to wake up from its "slumber" to act against those trying to create divisions in society.
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Minister Sivankutty welcomes PM Modi to 'developed Nemom', BJP hits back
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow here for April 9 Assembly elections, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty and BJP state leadership on Saturday locked horns on social media over development issues.
Sivankutty, LDF candidate from Nemom, in a Facebook post welcomed Modi for the roadshow in the constituency later in the day and highlighted a series of development projects.
The BJP state unit took a swipe at the minister through another Facebook post sarcastically questioning his claims.
In the FB post, Sivankutty said he was happy that the Prime Minister would conduct a roadshow from Killipalam junction towards Pappanamcode, as it would provide an opportunity to witness the development initiatives carried out in Nemom.
The senior CPI(M) leader is also the sitting MLA in Nemom, one of the constituencies where BJP pins its hopes the most in the upcoming Assembly polls.
The minister invited PM Modi to witness what he described as a "developed Nemom".
He listed several projects along the proposed route of the PM's scheduled roadshow, including a newly established ITI at Chala built at a cost of Rs 18 crore and the state office of SSK, which he said was constructed by the Kerala government after alleged denial of central assistance.
The minister further pointed to infrastructure such as the Deputy Director of Education's office complex, and a new building for Chala school constructed at a cost of Rs 4.8 crore.
He also highlighted road development and beautification works from Karamana junction to Pravachambalam, undertaken at a cost of Rs 5 crore, along with new street lighting installations.
Sivankutty said additional projects included multi-storey school buildings at various institutions, road upgradation works, and a career development centre built at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
While welcoming the Prime Minister, Sivankutty also urged him to explain the delay in disbursing Rs 1,500 crore allegedly due to Kerala under the SSK scheme, stating that the funds are meant for supporting children from economically weaker and marginalised sections.
He further claimed that salaries of around 7,000 teaching and non-teaching staff under the scheme are currently being paid by the state government.
In its social media post, the BJP's state leadership responded sarcastically to Sivankutty's claims of development by listing a series of prominent landmarks in and around Thiruvananthapuram, suggesting that the PM could see them by simply turning in different directions.
"Turn a little to the right and you can see the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Go straight from there and you will see the Vizhinjam seaport. Turn left and you can see the Thumba rocket launch centre. From there, if you go straight, you will reach Thiruvananthapuram railway station. Turn right and you will see the Padmanabhaswamy temple," it said.
"Go straight and you will reach Kovalam international beach. And if you look up from there, you can see the sky," the post said in Malayalam.
