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The Shiromani Akali Dal, led by Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, on Wednesday received a jolt when the relative of one of its candidates shot dead a labourer in the course of the poll campaign.
What makes matters worse is that the candidate is Badal's son-in-law Adeshpratap Singh Kairon, who is contesting the assembly poll from Patti in Tarn Taran district.
Sources said that the incident occurred when SAD activists were removing the buntings of the Congress candidate.
When supporters of the latter objected, a scuffle ensued which ended with the accused opening fire, they said.
Ali Sher Khan, a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, was killed on the spot while two others were injured.
Spokesperson of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Lakhvinder Kaur Garcha alleged that in their desperation to win the election, Adeshpratap's brother Gurpratap Singh Kairon opened fire on Congress supporters, at Bhikiwind on Wednesday night.
"It is now almost clear that the attack was preplanned and their main target was Congress candidate Tarlok Singh Chakwalia. The accused is the son of Surinder Singh Kairon," she told rediff.com.
"A case has already been filed against the accused," she said.
"It is but natural for the Congress to make allegations against our candidate. They first incite and provoke our workers and when we react they make all sorts of allegations," reacted an Akali leader from his campaign headquarters in Jallandhar.
So far, the police have not been able to arrest Gurpratap, Akali leaders told rediff.com.
Bhikiwind is considered to be a sensitive area and is only 10 kilometers away from the Pakistan border.
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