Two rival groups clashed in a violent exchange of gunfire on Sunday night at Light Chowk in Sri Hargobindpur, near Batala, Punjab, because of an ongoing over the government water canal, Rajbaha. Reportedly, about sixty shots were fired at each other by both sides. According to reports, about seven people were injured and 4 people were killed. Two of the injured are in critical condition. The deceased have been identified as Nirmal Singh of village Mood and Balraj Singh of village Vithwan from one group, and Shamsher Singh and Baljit Singh of village Vithwan from the other group.
After bringing the injured to the civil hospital, their families informed the police of the incident. Numerous senior police officers as well as the station in-charge arrived at the scene and got the inquiry underway. Two Vithwan village groups were at odds with one another over government water. Following the event, Angrez Singh and Surinder Singh arrived to Civil Hospital's doctor Ekamjit Singh in critical condition and have been referred to Amritsar.
Two of them, Baljeet Singh and Shamsher Singh were taken to the hospital, bwhere upon arrival they were declared dead. The injured from the rival group have been admitted to another hospital. According to SHO Satpal Singh, cause of the altercation was the prior rivalry over the government water channel. Further investigation is underway.