Punjab Shiv Sena leader attack: Another accused who helped attacker escape arrested | Chandigarh News

Police had previously stated that “the attack was not planned in advance.”

Police identified the accused arrested on Thursday as Jaswinder Singh, alias Sunny, of Chuharpur Peeran Wali Gali, Haibowal, Ludhiana.

According to police, Sunny was not on site during the incident but provided logistical support to one of the attackers to escape.

Earlier, the police had arrested two main accused, both Nihang Singhs – Sarabjit Singh alias Sabi and Harjot Singh alias Jota – who allegedly attacked Thapar with swords on July 5 on the Old Jail Road near Civil Hospital.

Police said their other accomplice Suchha Singh alias Ladi of Khanpur village, Baba Bakala in Amritsar district, who was present at the crime scene, was still absconding.

ADCP (investigation) Amandeep Singh Brar said Sarabjit, Harjot and Succha were present at the spot and CCTV cameras caught them attacking Thapar. “After the attack, Sarabjit called Jaswinder and asked him for help. While Sarabjit and Harjot fled the scene on Thapar’s two-wheeler, Suchha reached the ‘chhawni’ (makeshift shelter) of Nihang Singhs near Samrala Chowk where Jaswinder Singh was present. Jaswinder gave Suchha some money and helped him catch a bus to Mohali,” the ADCP said.

The official further said, “Earlier, it was suspected that the attack was spontaneous as the attackers saw Thapar coming out of the Civil Hospital. However, now it seems that it was planned as at least four people were found to be involved in it.”

According to police sources, Jaswinder Singh dresses like Nihangs but has not yet officially joined the community. He worked as a helper in a typist’s workshop in the local courthouse. A few months ago, slum dwellers filed a complaint against Sarabjit and his accomplices at the Moti Nagar police station, alleging that Nihang Singhs had encroached on their land to construct a chhawni near Samrala Chowk.

The ADCP prima facie stated that all the accused were angry over Thapar’s provocative speeches on social media, particularly his comments against radical leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

The officer did not rule out that further arrests could be made in the coming days.

“These four accused committed the crime in common collusion. As per the common plan, the fourth accused (Jaswinder) was not at the crime scene. When the attack was carried out, Sarabjit and Harjot Singh escaped by taking the victim’s scooter and Jaswinder Singh alias Sunny helped the third accomplice Sucha Singh to escape,” Ludhiana police said in a statement.

Jaswinder was remanded in two-day judicial custody by a local court on Thursday.

Police said Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been added to the FIR.

On July 5, three Nihangs attacked Thapar with swords and seriously injured him in front of everyone in Ludhiana, police said.

Thapar, who has undergone several surgeries, is recovering at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana.

The Governor of Punjab, Banwari Lal Purohit, also visited Ludhiana and was informed by Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal about the current status of the investigation into the case.

Following the attack, police closed Thapar’s social media pages, where he had uploaded several speeches against radical Sikhs and hardliners.