Two arrested for brutal sword attack on Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar

NEW DELHI: In a joint operation on Friday, police from Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib arrested two suspects, while a third remains at large. The accused, disguised as Nihang Sikhs, brutally attacked Shiv Sena leader and Sandeep Thapar, a descendant of freedom fighter martyr Sukhdev. Thapar is currently in critical condition.
Sandeep Thapar, 58, was mercilessly attacked after attending a ceremony at the Samvedna Trust near the Civil Hospital, as police reported.Thapar had participated in an event marking the fourth death anniversary of the trust's founder-president, Ravinder Arora.
The Samvedna Trust is known for providing free ambulance and hearse services.
CCTV footage of the incident, which surfaced on social media, shows the assailants, dressed as Nihangs, approaching Thapar while he was on a scooter with his security guard riding pillion. As Thapar spoke to them with folded hands, one assailant suddenly attacked him with a sword. Another assailant appeared to push Thapar's security guard away.
After Thapar fell, a third assailant also began striking him with a sword. The attackers then fled on Thapar's scooter. Nihangs, a warrior Sikh sect, are typically seen in blue robes and carry traditional weapons.
Thapar, who sustained head injuries, was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital before being transferred to a private hospital, where his condition is reported as serious.
The BJP condemned the attack and demanded the resignation of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann.