Attack on Patiala Police: Left hand successfuly re-implanted at PGIMER

On Sunday morning, some agitated members of religious groups tried to break the lockdown restrictions in the city of Patiala, India. The incident took place when the individuals broke down the barricades of a vegetable market and attacked police officials while asked to show emergency passes.

The individuals argued with police officials, and the heated argument resulted in an attack on an ASI named Harjit Singh and a group of fugitives chopped off his hand with a sword. The violent attack left Mr Singh severely injured, while two other officers sustained minor bruises.

Mr Singh has undergone more than 7-hour long surgery at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, where doctors say his condition is stable.

Director-General of Punjab, Mr Dinkar Gupta showed an immediate concern towards the incident and discussed Mr Singh's condition with expert doctors of the institution.

As per DGP Gupta, Director of the hospital, Dr Jagat Ram has activated emergency teams at the advanced trauma centre, and re-implantation of the 50-year-old injured officer has succeeded.

Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amrinder Singh stated that violence against officials would not be tolerated.

DGP Gupta took immediate action, and seven persons are already arrested in association with this attack, investigations are undergoing, and police has captured several weapons from the attackers. Five out of the seven are 'Nihang Sikhs', and all arrests were made from a holy shrine in Patiala.

Authorities revealed that more than 20 Nihang Sikhs are confined by the police in connection with the attack.

The attackers were associated with a religious community, commonly known as 'Nihang Sikhs', these people are usually armed with swords and other objects because of their sacred religious beliefs. However, this is the first time anyone from the group has attacked police officials in any such manner.

Nihang Sikhs are also known as the immortals, and these are armed Sikh knights who are considered to be descendants of Guru Gobind Singh's son Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji and are seen in an attire comparable to his own.