Shiv Sena Punjab leader Sandeep Thapar attacked in Ludhiana, condition serious

A week after his security was cut, 58-year-old Shiv Sena Punjab leader Sandeep Thapar alias Gora was attacked by four unidentified men dressed in Nihang attire outside Ludhiana Civil Hospital on Friday afternoon.

According to police, the four accused attacked Thapar with swords and fled. His lone gunman did not offer any resistance to protect him or try to pursue the attackers.

The attack occurred when Thapar was leaving the Samvedna Trust office near the government hospital after attending a ceremony to mark the fourth death anniversary of the trust’s founder and president Ravinder Arora, police said. The four accused were waiting outside with swords and struck him on the head.

Eyewitnesses took the seriously injured leader to the public hospital and from there he was referred to the local Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.

Following the incident, Shiv Sena leaders gathered outside the Civil Hospital and shouted slogans against the Punjab government and police.

Sumit Arora, president of the youth wing of the Shiv Sena Punjab, said Thapar had guarded at least three shooters, but the police had withdrawn his guard a week ago. Later, one of the shooters was returned to him. Arora claimed that the shooter had stayed away from duty and was watching as a mute spectator, allowing the accused to escape easily.

The police have launched an investigation and are searching for the accused.

Samvedna Trust is a local non-governmental organization that provides free ambulance service to patients and vehicles for transporting bodies for cremation. Nihangs belong to a Sikh warrior sect whose members are usually seen wearing blue robes and carrying traditional weapons.