Fazilka, Sept. 11 — Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Nardev Singh Bobby Mann was arrested on Wednesday from Chandigarh in connection with a violent clash that broke out during panchayat poll nominations in Fazilka’s Jalalabad last year, police said.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh confirmed the arrest, stating, “A special police team apprehended Nardev from Chandigarh.” Mann, who had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Ferozepur, was produced before court late Wednesday and remanded to one-day police custody. He is scheduled to appear again before the Jalalabad court on Thursday.
The case traces back to October 2024, when rival groups clashed outside the block development and panchayat officer’s office over allegations of irregularities in nomination papers. The confrontation escalated into stone-pelting and gunfire.
During the violence, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Mandeep Singh Brar, who was contesting for sarpanch from Muhammad Wala village, sustained a gunshot wound to his chest. He was rushed to hospital and survived the injury.
Police later booked SAD leaders Vardev Singh Noni Mann, his brothers Nardev Singh Bobby Mann and Harpinder Singh Mann, along with 15–20 unidentified associates, under multiple charges including attempt to murder.
The complaint was lodged by Gurpreet Singh, a sarpanch candidate from Chak Suhelewala village, who alleged that he was the intended target of the firing. “The bullet was meant for me but struck Brar, who was standing close by,” Gurpreet said in his statement. He further claimed the clash was triggered after he objected to the nomination papers of Harpinder Singh, son of Vardev.
According to police, the Mann brothers and their supporters first pelted stones before Vardev allegedly opened fire. Officials added that the violence was fueled by an old dispute over alleged illegal occupation of panchayat land where the Mann family operates a private school. Following public complaints, the government had revoked the school’s no-objection certificate, intensifying the rivalry.
“Further investigations are underway to establish individual roles in the violence,” SSP Gurmeet Singh noted.
