SAD worker thrashed to death in Batala

A 55-year-old SAD worker was today allegedly thrashed to death by his neighbhours over a petty dispute at Bijliwal village here, police said.
Bikram Singh's wife, Satwant Kaur, in her complaint said her husband was beaten to death by Balkar Singh, his son Ravneet Singh and wife Gurmeet Kaur over the construction of a wall, they said.
The complainant said the accused started abusing her husband when he was picking bricks in front of their house today morning, police said.
She alleged that a verbal spat turned violent, and Balkar and his family members started assaulting Bikram, resulting in his death on the spot, they said.

On being informed, SP (Headquarter) Gursewak Singh rushed to the spot and sent the body to Batala Civil Hospital for postmortem.
Bikram's wife alleged that after the Congress came to power in Punjab, Balkar, who is affliated to the party, threatened her husband with dire consequences, if he tried to construct the wall.

Based on the woman's complaint, the police have booked the accused, who are absconding, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Accusing the police of working under "pressure" of the Congress, SAD leader Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon said, "After the Congress came to power in Punjab, the incidents of political vendetta are increasing but the police were resisting to take action against the Congress's men."

The party's workers under the protection of Congress minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa are "victimising" Akali workers, he alleged.
However, Bajwa rubbished the allegations levelled by the SAD leader and said "the police have been given a free hand to maintain law and order".
"Not a single case of political vendetta was reported in the last two months. The victim died following a heart attack," he claimed.