Amritsar: At least four people were injured when an Akali Dal leader in Tarn Taran town of Punjab Thursday opened fire on workers of the alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The four injured were admitted to the civil hospital in Tarn Taran, 60 km from here.

Former Akali Dal councillor Tarsem Singh opened fire on the BJP activists from his licensed weapon after an argument over putting posters for local elections.

District police officials said a case was registered against Tarsem Singh.

Though the Akali Dal and BJP are part of the state's ruling coalition, this is not the first time their supporters have clashed.

Last month, Akali Dal legislator Harmit Singh Sandhu had led an attack on Anil Joshi, the BJP legislator from Amritsar, injuring him and his supporters. Joshi's vehicle was also set on fire by Sandhu's supporters.

A case was registered against Sandhu and others.

The clash between the legislators brought differences between the partners to the fore with the BJP threatening to explore all options, including quitting the Punjab coalition government, if the Akali Dal supporters continued to assault its leaders and workers.

Clashes between the two sides also occurred during local bodies elections last month.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had to intervene to pacify the BJP leadership then.

 

Source : IANS