Five persons were killed in a clash between two groups in Palwali village here on Sunday evening over long-standing rivalry related to Panchayat elections. More than 30 people have been detained in this connection so far.
The deceased have been identified as Shri Chand, Rajender, Ishwar, Naveen, and Devender. While three of the deceased are related, the remaining two are their neighbours.
According to the police, a mob armed with lathis , sharp-edged weapons and firearms attacked the rival group around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday killing five persons on the spot. More than half-a-dozen have sustained injuries in the attack and are admitted to hospital.
Fariabad Police spokesperson Sube Singh told The Hindu said the attack appeared to be pre-meditated since the assailants were heavily armed.
Of the 25 people named in the First Information Report, the police claimed to have detained 19 for questioning. Besides, 10 more people have been detained in this connection. “It is yet to be ascertained whether the deceased died of bullet injuries or were attacked with sharp-edged weapons and lathis ,” said Mr. Singh, adding that several rounds were fired during the clash.
Commissioner of Police, Faridabad, Hanif Qureshi has constituted a Special Investigation Team for probe into the matter. Several teams have been despatched to Palwal and Gurugram to arrest those named in the FIR.
The investigation so far has revealed that the victims' family had not supported the assailants during Panchayat elections prompting the attack, the police said.
The police have been deployed in large numbers at the village and the hospital in view of prevailing tension in the area.
