Ludhiana: The leader of another Hindu organization was attacked in the city; police suspect road rage; 1 kept

A man was arrested after a Hindu outfit leader, his brother and his nephew were attacked in Chaura Bazar on Sunday, officials said.

All three people injured in the attack were taken to a nearby hospital by the surrounding people.

Police suspect that the alleged attack on Rajan Rana, district president of Shiv Sena Samajwadi vyopar (commerce) wing, was a result of the road rage incident. Number 3 Branch police launched an investigation.

Police officials identified the victim’s brother as Bobby and his nephew as Piyush.

This is not the first such incident. Less than two weeks ago, two assailants on bicycles allegedly threw a petrol bomb at the house of the leader of another Hindu organisation.

The new incident reportedly started when Rana and his family were on their way to drop Bobby’s family home after a birthday celebration.

Due to congestion near food stalls in Chaura Bazar, Piyush, who was driving, honked his horn to clear the way. However, a group of young people did not accept this offer. Rana said that he managed to pass by, but the young people blocked their way and blocked their car with their scooter.

While he objected to the honking of the horn before, he claimed that they attacked him at that time. He added that the defendants’ aides appeared and attacked them with weapons.

Following the incident, Shiv Sena Samajwadi leaders, including national president Honey Bhardwaj, national youth president Vishal Madan and Punjab in-charge Rishabh Kannaujiya, visited the injured at the civil hospital. The victims were later transported to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where Rana received stitches for his head injury.

Bhardwaj and Madan demanded strict action in the matter and pressed for immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.

Police arrested Gagan Kwatra from the spot as part of ‘preventive action’, No. 3 Division station house officer (SHO) inspector Amritpal Sharma said. He said he was waiting for the police to record the statements of the victims and after that a first information report (FIR) would be registered. The SHO said it appeared to be a road rage issue.

Police sources said they obtained video footage of the attack and were trying to identify other people involved.

On October 16, two unidentified assailants attacked Shiv Sena (Bharatvanshi) chief Yogesh Bakshi’s house in New Chandar Nagar.