Gurgaon: A months-long dispute over the installation of a village welcome board escalated into a violent clash and firing between two groups in Faridabad’s Bhupani area on Wednesday evening.The dispute dates back to May when panchayat officials visited Kanwara Kalan village to install a welcome board at the village entrance. The move was opposed by Keshav Bhardwaj, former sarpanch of neighbouring Dungarpur village, who claimed the land belonged to him, police said.“Officials from the panchayat department also reached the spot at the time, following which an argument broke out between the two sides. The issue remained unresolved and tension continued,” a police officer said.The dispute flared up around 6 pm on Wednesday near Kanwara Kalan when vehicles carrying members of the rival groups crossed paths. According to police, Rajesh, Arun and their associates were travelling in a Creta from Kanwara Mod towards Dungarpur when their vehicle collided with an Innova carrying Ajay and others from the opposite direction.The collision triggered an argument that soon turned into a fight. Several people allegedly reached the spot armed with sticks and iron rods, escalating the violence further. One of the complaints names Keshav Bhardwaj, his brother Ajay, father Haridutt, Lakhan and others among those who arrived at the scene.Police have registered separate FIRs under attempt-to-murder charges at Bhupani police station. More than 20 people have been booked in one case, while six people have been named in the counter-case, a police spokesperson said.During the clash, firing was reported and Sunil, a resident of Dungarpur village, sustained bullet injuries. His nephew, Sumit Baisla, alleged that the attack was carried out with an intention to kill.“He said his brother Bittu informed him about the firing, following which he reached the spot and found the two groups fighting,” the officer further said.Sumit alleged that their vehicle was first hit and later firing took place. He claimed a bullet struck Sunil, leaving him seriously injured.Sunil suffered injuries to his shoulder and stomach and was rushed to a private hospital, where his condition remains critical. Two others, Bittu and Mehtar, were also injured in the clash and are undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital.Police said members of both groups suffered injuries and that investigations are underway to establish the sequence of events and identify those involved in the firing.
