PATIALA: An assistant sub-inspector's hand was severed and two of his

Punjab

Police colleagues injured in Patiala district on Sunday when a group of

Sikhs allegedly attacked them with swords after being asked to show curfew passes outside a wholesale vegetable market.

Hours after the incident, police arrested eight men from a gurdwara in nearby Balbera village. Police said they recovered arms, some cash and cannabis during the raid.

A group of '

' reached the vegetable market at around 6.15am and were stopped by the Mandi board employees from entering into the market as they did not carry any pass.

The Nihangs first thrashed the Mandi board employee and then entered the vegetable market. The policemen present at the spot intervened and soon a scuffle broke out between them and the Nihangs during which the latter took out swords and chopped off the hand of ASI

, while SHO Sadar Bilkar Singh and ASI Raj Singh sustained injuries on shoulders, arms and legs.

After attacking the policemen, the men fled from the scene towards Gurudwara Khichdi Sahib and a police team chased them.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police

, along with other senior officials, soon reached the spot and sent additional forces to nab the accused.

Meanwhile, ASI Harjeet Singh, inspector

and ASI Raj Singh were rushed to the Rajindra hospital from where Harjeet Singh was referred to

.

SSP Sidhu said that a case under the relevant sections of the law has been registered and efforts were on to arrest the four accused.

He said they have got in touch with Punjab Police Headquarter at Chandigarh and a team had already reached out to the doctors at PGI Chandigarh. "We are trying to ensure best medical help for the ASI, while action as per law is being taken against Nihangs".