Court sentences senior Punjab Cong leader, 14 others

A local court today convicted and awarded varying sentences to 15 people, including a senior Punjab Congress leader, for their involvement in a clash which took place in the district in 2002.
Punjab Congress general secretary Fatehjung Singh Bajwa, the younger brother of state Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa, and his five associates were sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail by the court.
Batala judicial magistrate Amita Singh sentenced rest of the nine convicts, who were against Bajwa in the clash at Bojha village, to three years in prison.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 11,000 each on Singh and his five associates and Rs 12,000 each on his opponents.

However, the convicts were released on personnel bonds and were allowed to file appeal against the decision in an upper court within a stipulated time of 30 days.