Ludhiana, a Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader, was seriously injured after being attacked with swords by three assailants in public view here on Friday, police said.
Hours after the incident, two of the attackers were arrested in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Thapar's security guard, who was accompanying him at the time of the incident, was suspended for dereliction of duty by him, they said.
Opposition parties attacked the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the law and order situation and demanded that he resign on moral grounds.Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader Sandeep Thapar (58) was attacked while leaving the Samvedna Trust office near the Civil Hospital after attending a ceremony to mark the fourth death anniversary of the trust's founder and chairman Ravinder Arora, police said.
Samvedna Trust offers free ambulance service to patients and hearses.
CCTV footage of the incident surfaced on social media. In the alleged video, the attackers dressed as Nihangs approached Thapar while he was on a scooter with his security guard in the back seat.
While Thapar was talking to the assailants with his hands folded, one of them suddenly attacked him with a sword while bystanders looked on. Another attacker appears to be pushing Thapar's security guard.
After Thapar fell, the third attacker also started hitting Thapar with a sword. Two of the accused later fled on Thapar's scooter, leaving him in a pool of blood. The Nihangs belong to a Sikh warrior sect whose members are often seen wearing blue robes and carrying traditional weapons.
Thapar, who suffered multiple injuries, was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital. He was later referred to a private hospital where his condition was considered to be serious, police said.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Chahal and Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police Ravjot Grewal told reporters that Thapar suffered injuries on his head, arms and legs. Two of the attackers, Sarabjit Singh and Harjot Singh, both residents of Ludhiana, were arrested from Fatehgarh Sahib. Their scooter was also recovered, police said.
The third attacker, Tehal Singh, is absconding and raids are being carried out to nab him, they said.
The police said a case has been registered with the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the matter. Thapar's security guard has been suspended for dereliction of duty by him, they added.
The BJP condemned the attack and demanded Mann's resignation.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said, "This incident has shown that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is failing miserably in maintaining peace in the state." the culprits of this murderous attack," Jakhar said in a post on X in Punjabi.
Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sareen said Mann is not only the chief minister of the state but also holds the home portfolio.
Since the AAP came to power in Punjab, the law and order situation in the state has gone from bad to worse, he claimed. Sareen said the Punjab government has proven to be a "total failure" on the law and the order.
In such circumstances, the prime minister should take moral responsibility for such incidents and resign, he said.
In a post on "Punjab is descending into jungle raj with extortion and targeted killings under the AAP regime," he said.
Congress leader Partap Bajwa also condemned the incident and targeted Mann for the current law and order situation in the state.
"Peace in Punjab returned after endless sacrifices, no one should be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere of the state. In Punjab people of all religions live together with love and brotherhood," he said in a post on game that they want to disturb the peace of Punjab once again for political gains. Punjab CM stop doing theatrics and focus on the law and order of the state, being the Home Minister the responsibility is at your doorstep," Bajwa said.
"They have failed to control drugs, now law and order is also breaking down. If they cannot take care of the state, resign as chief minister and let some capable AAP leader come to power.
"Don't ruin the state while you are busy cracking jokes and praising yourself on public stages. Get down on the ground and see the reality. Today, no one is safe in Punjab under your watch," Bajwa said.
Hours after the incident, two of the attackers were arrested in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Thapar's security guard, who was accompanying him at the time of the incident, was suspended for dereliction of duty by him, they said.
Opposition parties attacked the state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the law and order situation and demanded that he resign on moral grounds.Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader Sandeep Thapar (58) was attacked while leaving the Samvedna Trust office near the Civil Hospital after attending a ceremony to mark the fourth death anniversary of the trust's founder and chairman Ravinder Arora, police said.
Samvedna Trust offers free ambulance service to patients and hearses.
CCTV footage of the incident surfaced on social media. In the alleged video, the attackers dressed as Nihangs approached Thapar while he was on a scooter with his security guard in the back seat.
While Thapar was talking to the assailants with his hands folded, one of them suddenly attacked him with a sword while bystanders looked on. Another attacker appears to be pushing Thapar's security guard.
After Thapar fell, the third attacker also started hitting Thapar with a sword. Two of the accused later fled on Thapar's scooter, leaving him in a pool of blood. The Nihangs belong to a Sikh warrior sect whose members are often seen wearing blue robes and carrying traditional weapons.
Thapar, who suffered multiple injuries, was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital. He was later referred to a private hospital where his condition was considered to be serious, police said.
Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Chahal and Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police Ravjot Grewal told reporters that Thapar suffered injuries on his head, arms and legs. Two of the attackers, Sarabjit Singh and Harjot Singh, both residents of Ludhiana, were arrested from Fatehgarh Sahib. Their scooter was also recovered, police said.
The third attacker, Tehal Singh, is absconding and raids are being carried out to nab him, they said.
The police said a case has been registered with the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the matter. Thapar's security guard has been suspended for dereliction of duty by him, they added.
The BJP condemned the attack and demanded Mann's resignation.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said, "This incident has shown that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is failing miserably in maintaining peace in the state." the culprits of this murderous attack," Jakhar said in a post on X in Punjabi.
Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sareen said Mann is not only the chief minister of the state but also holds the home portfolio.
Since the AAP came to power in Punjab, the law and order situation in the state has gone from bad to worse, he claimed. Sareen said the Punjab government has proven to be a "total failure" on the law and the order.
In such circumstances, the prime minister should take moral responsibility for such incidents and resign, he said.
In a post on "Punjab is descending into jungle raj with extortion and targeted killings under the AAP regime," he said.
Congress leader Partap Bajwa also condemned the incident and targeted Mann for the current law and order situation in the state.
"Peace in Punjab returned after endless sacrifices, no one should be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere of the state. In Punjab people of all religions live together with love and brotherhood," he said in a post on game that they want to disturb the peace of Punjab once again for political gains. Punjab CM stop doing theatrics and focus on the law and order of the state, being the Home Minister the responsibility is at your doorstep," Bajwa said.
"They have failed to control drugs, now law and order is also breaking down. If they cannot take care of the state, resign as chief minister and let some capable AAP leader come to power.
"Don't ruin the state while you are busy cracking jokes and praising yourself on public stages. Get down on the ground and see the reality. Today, no one is safe in Punjab under your watch," Bajwa said.
