Goons of the mining mafia attacked Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Rupnagar, Amarjit Singh Sandoa, 40, at Beinhara village, around 90km from the state capital, in the district on Thursday about 12.30pm. Sandoa had gone there after receiving reports that illegal sand mining was on at site.

The incident comes three days after two officials, including a forest officer, were brutally thrashed by five to seven assailants on the night of June 18, when they intercepted a sand-laden tractor-trolley near Seonk village in Mohali. Four others were also injured in that attack.

Sandoa had just finished addressing some media persons who had accompanied him when one Ajwinder Singh, arrived at the spot and starting abusing and thrashing the MLA and his staff. The AAP MLA’s turban was tossed during the attack. His gunman, headconstable Sukhdeep Singh, who tried to resist was also assaulted.

His personal assistant Jaspal Singh Pali, who was posting live videos on the Facebook ID of Sandoa, was also assaulted. The assailants fled from the sport after the incident.

The injured were taken to the Anandpur Sahib civil hospital from where Amarjit was referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, for further check-up after he complained of chest pain. In a release, the PGIMER said the MLA was stable and was likely to be discharged on Friday.

“Sandoa was attacked by the goons of mining mafia,” said AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who is also the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly.

SUV, guns recovered

Later in the day, three relatives of Ajwinder Singh, the main suspect, of Baihara village were arrested. Ajwinder and another accused, Bachittar Singh of Bhauwal village, had fled after the incident. Those arrested are Jaswinder Singh Goldy, Manjit Singh and Amarjit Singh, all of Baihara village. One black SUV, a Mahindra XUV, and two 12-bore guns were seized from them.

The five have been booked under section 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty),186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs,148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the IPC and section 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Later in the day, Ajwinder, the main accused, uploaded a video on social media alleging that the MLA had been demanding money from a a mining contractor, Sarabjit Singh, and he had gone to the spot to make Sandoa see reason.