Jalandhar: A police operation to catch an alleged drug peddler spiralled into violence in a village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district on Tuesday night, leaving two cops injured and three villagers with bullet ‘splinter’ wounds.A police team, responding to a drug complaint received on their helpline, was allegedly attacked in Ghaaia village, Dasuya, 200km from Chandigarh, leading to the registration of a case against the village sarpanch, her husband, a former sarpanch, and 25 others on attempted-murder and other charges.According to the FIR, ASI Sarabjit Singh and head constable Sukhdev Singh arrived in the village after an alert received at 8.30pm that one Sukhwinder Singh was selling heroin in the area. The ASI said he contacted former sarpanch Bhupinder Singh, whose wife Kuldeep Kaur currently holds the sarpanch position.“When I asked about the person selling drugs in the village, Bhupinder replied that it was none of my business,” the ASI says in the FIR, alleging that when he began to film an inebriated Bhupinder, he was assaulted, and his mobile phone thrown away. When he resumed filming, Bhupinder and his wife allegedly tried to snatch his phone and incited other villagers, claiming police were asking about Sukhwinder.ASI alleged that he was assaulted, his turban pulled down, and his uniform torn. Two residents, Niranjan Singh and Harwinder Singh, tried to snatch his service pistol, says the FIR. “During the scuffle, four bullets got fired from my pistol. They hit the ground and then struck the feet and legs of the accused,” he stated. Head constable Sukhdev Singh was also allegedly beaten and injured.Police filed a case against Kuldeep Kaur, Bhupinder, five other named individuals, and 20 unidentified people. Charges include attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from performing official duty, and obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public function.Dasuya DSP Balwinder Jaura confirmed that the two injured officers are being treated at Dasuya Civil Hospital, while three villagers sustained injuries from bullet splinters.
