A father-son duo suffered injuries after they were attacked by employees of the Municipal Council in Machhiwara. They were attacked by the staff during an anti-encroachment drive on Monday night.
The injured were undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital in Samrala. The video of the incident had also gone viral on social media.
Following the incident, the council suspended seven employees.
The Machhiwara police also registered a case against the suspects under various sections of the BNS. Sukhwinder Singh, alias Chhota, of Charan Kanwal Chowk, Manoj Kumar and Paras of Valmiki Mohalla and Babli and Nona of Machhiwara were among those booked in the case. Sukhwinder, Paras and Manoj were arrested in the case and raids were being conducted to nab the other suspects, said Machhiwara SHO sub-inspector Pavitar Singh.
The complainant, Kuldeep Singh (47), an ex-serviceman, said he earns his daily bread by selling vegetables from a tractor-trailer. On Monday night, he, along with his son, was selling vegetables on the roadside near the bus stand when the MC staff came and started removing encroachments from the road.
He said the staff took away his weighing machine and speakers. He requested them to return the same but they did not listen and started hurling abuses at him. In no time, they all pounced on him. They even did not spare his son Sumanpreet Singh. The assailants used plastic crates and some iron objects to thrash them.
Vikramjit, executive officer, Municipal Council, Machhiwara, said: “Following the video of a spat of safai sewaks of the MC with the man, I have suspended them as the staff had started arguments, which turned into a physical assault."
