As many as nine people, including a woman, found wearing robes of 'Nihang Sikhs' have been arrested from a Gurudwara in Punjab's Balbera village. A policeman's hand was chopped off and two other cops were injured when this group of fugitives allegedly attacked a police party in Punjab's Patiala district on Sunday. The arrests were supervised by IG Patiala Zone, Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

Authorities said that more than 20 Nihang Sikhs have been detained by Patiala Police in connection with the attack. Sharp objects, automatic weapons, and petrol bombs along with Rs 35 lakh in cash have also been recovered from the Gurudwara in Balbera village where the attackers took shelter on Sunday morning, said Patiala IG Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

A group of four-five men dressed as 'Nihangs' (also known as the immortals, these are armed Sikh warriors who are believed to be descendants of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's son Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, and are seen in an attire similar to his own) travelling in a vehicle, were denied entry to the Patiala Sabzi Mandi at around 6:15 am on April 12 by the mandi board officials. "They were asked to show (curfew) passes. But they crashed the vehicle against the gate and barricades put up there," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala, Mandeep Singh Sidhu said.

Police Party on Naka duty was attacked today in which one ASI’s hand was cut off & 6 were injured. Police cornered the culprits & have taken them into custody. Have given instructions to the @PunjabPoliceInd to deal with anyone breaking the law in strictest possible manner. (1/2) April 12, 2020





The group then attacked the police personnel on duty, added Sidhu. "An assistant sub-inspector's (ASI) hand was chopped off with a sword. The station house officer (SHO) of Sadar-Patiala sustained an injury on his elbow and another official suffered an injury on his arm," Sidhu said.

I am proud of the @PunjabPoliceInd party under SI Bikkar Singh for professionally handling this situation. ASI Harjeet Singh is undergoing plastic surgery in PGI-Chandigarh, praying for a successful surgery. (2/2) — Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 12, 2020

The ASI was rushed to the Rajindra hospital from where he was referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh. According to the latest inputs, ASI Harjeet Singh is undergoing surgery at PGIMER in Chandigarh. The fugitives fled the scene after the attack and were traced to Balbera where local police surrounded them and asked them to surrender.

(With inputs from PTI)