Youth dies after police opens fire

A 21-year-old youth died after a police inspector allegedly opened fire to disperse two Akali groups who indulged in a clash after the panchayat poll results were announced, a senior police official said today.
The youth was identified as Pavitar Singh, an Akali worker of Chet Singh Wala village in the district, police said.
The poling officer, a home guard jawan and a constable were also injured in the clash that took place last night.
A case of murder was registered against police inspector Gurcharan Singh and winning sarpanch Parminder Singh (a supporter of Akali Dal MLA Deep Malhotra), SSP Gurmeet Singh Randhawa said.

The police inspector was placed under suspension and a SIT was constituted in this connection, the SSP said, adding no arrests were yet made.
Police also registered a case against Inderjit Singh who lost Sarpanch election and others for assaulting polling officer.

The incident took place last night when the polling officer declared Parminder as Sarpanch and Inderjit Singh protested and asked the officer for recounting, police said.
After this Inderjit and others were involved in a verbal duel with polling officer and staff.
A mobile poll police party rushed to the spot where the two groups were protesting and raising slogans.

When the situation became serious the police officer opened fire and Pavitar Singh, died on the spot. After this, the police inspector and others fled from the spot.
The SSP said that cases had been registered against both the parties.