Buddha Dal Clash

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Five people were injured in firing on Tuesday during a clash between Nihang groups at Talwandi Sabo. Members of the Balvir Singh faction opened fire on groups led by Surjit Singh and Joginder Singh to start this battle for 14 acres attached with Gill Dhaba near Dashmesh Public School on the Bathinda road here. The Surjit Singh faction owns the eating joint.

The police claim that investigations were on into the incident. The five people from the Joginder Singh group, who were injured in firing and moved to the Bathinda Civil Hospital, are out of danger. "Harjinder Singh (17), Mahal Singh (40), Sukhwinder Singh Akali (40) of Sangrur, Bahadur Singh, and Jeet Singh (55) are lucky to be alive," said doctors at the hospital. "The bullets didn't hit delicate parts of the body."

Many times before, rival factions of the Budha Dal have had all out war. Nihang leader Surjit Singh and his accomplices are in the Patiala jail for attempt to murder.

On the statement of Bahadur Singh of the Joginder Singh group, the police have lodged charges against 12 suspects, including eight anonymous people. The clash occurred in the morning," said Paramjit Singh, station house officer of Talwandi Sabo. "We are looking into the cause."

The suspects, across rival groups, are charged under Sections 307 (attempt to muder), 323 (causing injury voluntarily), 148 (armed riot), and 149 (unlawful assembly with common object) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25 (supplying arms to drunken people), 27 (violating firearms provisions), 54 (firing bullets), and 59 (repeals and general savings) of the Arms Act.

Previous conflicts

Many times before, rival factions of the Budha Dal have indulged in an all-out war. Nihang leader Surjit Singh and his accomplices are in the Patiala jail for attempt to murder.

April 15, 2007: Teenager injured critically in the clash of two Nihang Sikh factions at Gurdwara Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on Baisakhi. Several rounds of bullets fired; cases registered against 15. September 21, 2007: In the war of succession in the Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal (Panjwan Takht), four Nihangs from the sect, all relatives of Baba Balvir Singh, killed in a clash between two groups of Nihangs in Patiala. January 16, 2009: AT Patiala, Nihang Balvir Singh, jathedar of a faction, escapes attempt on life during visit to a Nihang dera

Bad blood

In April 2007, Baba Santa Singh, head of the Shiromani Panth Akali Baba Budha Dal (Budha Dal) announces Balvir Singh as legal heir formally. Budha Dal controls the affairs of one of Patiala's most prestigious schools, Buddha Dal Public School.

The people killed in the clash of September 21, 2007, were Balvir's son, Assa Singh; brothers, Bhajan Singh and Jagdish Singh; and nephew, Karamjit Singh (22).