'Buddha Dal' activist shot dead in Barnala village

An activist of Buddha Dal, a section of Nihang Sikhs, was shot dead allegedly due to a factional fight at Kahneke village in Barnala district, police said today.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A S Sharma said that the assailants came in a jeep and pumped two bullets in the chest of Bahadur Singh (55) last midnight when he was sleeping in the community hall of the village.
Bahadur along with other Nihangs was resting at the village when the killing took place.
The DSP said that the crime was a result of factional war between the two groups of Nihangs.

He said that Nihang Balbir Singh, who was also booked for criminal conspiracy, wanted to take control over the deceased's properties.
Police have booked Jaspal Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Jagraj Singh, Baldev Singh, Arjun Dev and Sarwan Singh (all between 40 to 50 years) and four unknown persons under various sections of IPC, including murder.
No arrests have been made so far, the DSP added.
He said that a murderous attack was made on Bahadur by the same people in 2012 in Bathinda.