Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Sept 16: One person was killed and two others were injured when two rival groups of Truckers Union resorted to firing following a clash between them at Govindsar near here, today.
The deceased was identified as Kuldeep Kumar of Ward No 2 Kathua, an Excise Department Guard who was posted at Excise Post Govindsar.
The clash, between two rival groups of the Union, took place during the election process of the Union president, police said.
53-year-old Kuldeep Kumar was killed and three others were injured when one group resorted to firing on another group, police said, adding, the injured were later hospitalized.
Four alleged accused were arrested during raids and a case has been registered against them under FIR No 327/14 under Section 302/307, they said.
Police has launched a manhunt to track down other people involved in the clash and firing.
SSP Kathua, Mohan Lal said that four persons have been arrested but the Union president Kuldeep Singh alias Kingo -the kingpin is absconding. He said police teams have been fanned in different directions to arrest him.
Following the incident, people mostly belonging to another group of Truckers Union thronged Jammu-Pathankote National Highway at Kathua and resorted to protest demonstrations.
They blocked the highway for two hours demanding the arrest of the culprits involved in the incident, police added.
They also accused the district administration for its failure in conducting the elections of the Union despite repeated pleas. They said that last year the date of elections was announced but later it was postponed for unknown reasons.
They said today again when the members of one group were updating the list of the Union for elections, another group members and its president entered into altercation with them. Losing control one of the members of the group fired from his service revolver killing an Excise Guard on spot and injuring the three other members of the Union belonging to the rival group.
The injured have been identified as Rajinder Singh of Raj Bagh, Bhupinder Singh Lachipora Kathua and Gurcharan Singh of Tosaf Sanji Kathua.
They have been shifted to Government Medical College Hospital Kathua for treatment where their condition is stated to be critical.
Follow our WhatsApp channel