RSS leader critical, SIT formed to probe attack

A four-member SIT has been formed to probe the attack on RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja, who is in a critical condition after being shot at by some bike-borne assailants.

BJP today asked Punjab government to take stringent action against those involved in the attack on Gagneja and alleged it was an attempt to thwart nationalistic forces and vitiate the atmosphere in the state by those "involved in terror activities, be it here or sitting abroad".

Gagneja, Vice President of the RSS (Punjab), was yesterday shot at by some bike-borne persons at Jyoti Chowk area here when he had gone shopping with his wife, leaving him seriously injured.

Doctors at a private hospital here conducted a surgery to remove two bullets from Gagneja's stomach. However, a third bullet is still lodged in his body.

Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the incident on the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and police was also examining CCTV footage from the area.

The SIT will be headed by DGP IPS Sahota and will comprise Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla, Inspector General Counter Intelligence Jalandhar Neelabh Kishore and Assistant Inspector General Amarjit Singh Bajwa, a police spokesperson said here.

Gagneja has been shifted to Ludhiana-based Dayanand Medical College and Hospital.
"Sah-sarsanghchalak of RSS's Punjab unit Jagdish Gagneja was operated till 2 AM in a private hospital here, after bullets hit his stomach, injuring him critically.

"While two bullets have been removed from his stomach, one is still trapped in his body around the liver," senior BJP leader and local MLA Manoranjan Kalia said.

He said a 'critical care team' is expected to reach by here today after he spoke to Health Minister JP Nadda.

"I have spoken to Union Health Minister JP Nadda and asked him to send a 'critical care team' to ensure better and proper treatment of Gagneja. Nadda has instructed Dr Yogesh Chawla, director PGI, Chandigarh and the team is expected to arrive here today," Kalia said.

He said a team under the leadership of Dr Jaspal from DMC Ludhiana, reached late last night on the orders of the Chief Minister and the operation was conducted under their guidance. His condition is stated to be critical.

Police, meanwhile, have found the number of the motorcycle used by the assailants from CCTV footage.

"We are examining the CCTV footage at the spot and have found the number of the motorcycle. Two bike-borne assailants, aged around 20, were riding the bike and had covered their faces with a handkerchief. Their heads were covered with black and yellow 'patka' (a headwrap worn traditionally by Sikh boys), Jalandhar Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla said.

Meanwhile BJP, which is part of the ruling alliance in Punjab, said the government should find out why such incidents were happening.

Punjab has seen attack on RSS volunteer in Ludhiana in January, murder of Chand Kaur, wife of former head of Namdhari sect, in Ludhiana in April and murderous attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale in Ludhiana in May.

"We have asked the state government to take this matter (attack on Gagneja) seriously and strict action should be taken against those who were behind this incident," BJP National Secretary Tarun Chugh told reporters.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal yesterday strongly condemned the attack on Gagneja.