Gunfire erupts in Ropar’s Nurpur Bedi area over panchayat land mining dispute

In Nurpur Bedi area of Ropar district, a gang-related dispute over a mining site occurred and shots were fired at Golden stone crusher yesterday around midnight.

The police have registered a case against the shooters. According to the FIR, Gurdeep Singh, resident of Raipur Munne village, and Baljinder Singh, resident of Palasi village, Nangal, were working at the stone crusher at around 12 am. Six cars approached the crusher from the direction of a nearby open liquor vend, carrying about 22-23 armed men. They began firing indiscriminately at the Golden Stone Crusher in Saidpur village. In self‑defence, Gurdeep and Baljinder pelted stones at the attackers.

The firing continued for about 20 minutes. Gurdeep Singh said he saved his life by hiding, while bullets pierced the walls of the crusher complex. He added that Ajwinder Singh, also a stone crusher owner, was the first to shout at the attackers.

On the basis of statements from Gurdeep and Baljinder, the police registered a case against Ajwinder Singh Beihara, Jaswinder Singh Goldy, Jashandeep Singh alias Jashan, Daljit Singh alias Bunty, Lovepreet Singh — all residents of Beihara village; Sunny, a resident of Anandpur Sahib, Karamjit Singh alias Basu of Brahman Majra village, Harmel Singh of Shahpur, Harjit Singh Beihara, and 12-13 other unknown individuals under Sections 109, 191(3), 190 of the Arms Act.

Sources said that the reason for the firing originated over mining activities on land belonging to the Beihara Panchayat. The accused were allegedly extracting raw materials from the panchayat‑owned land — a move opposed by locals. Meanwhile, the operators of Golden Stone Crusher were granted permission to lift material from the land. This led to the dispute over the land.

Punjab