While Ashok Kumar, who sustained a gunshot injury in the police firing last night, claimed that he along with other supporters had come to rescue Chand after receiving a phone call from him complaining that he was living in duress at Fiza’s place, Chand today categorically refuted the charges.

Asserting his willingness to stay with Fiza, Chand gave in writing to Mohali police: “I have come willingly and want to live with Fiza, who is my wife.”

Confirming this, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jatinder Singh Aulakh told Newsline that following the incident last night, a police party was sent to record the statement of Chand.

Chand, said the SSP, also refused to acknowledge the complaint lodged by one of his supporters who claimed that he (Chand) was abducted and kept under duress at Fiza’s place.

Recuperating at the Mohali Civil Hospital, Ashok, however, told reporters that Chand had called his elder brother Subhash, following which they had gone to inquire about the well-being of their leader.

“When we reached, a group of people were standing outside Fiza’s house. Soon, a police party arrived and took the four of us into custody,” claimed Ashok, while alleging that on their way to the police station, a cop shot him to “implicate” those arrested in a “false” case.

Refuting all charges, the SSP said that Ashok was in the mob trying to gatecrash into Fiza’s house when the police party reached the spot on being intimated by one Vijay Singla of Hisar. “It was after two cops were injured in the attack that ASI Sohan Singh fired in the air to disperse the mob. As the officer was pushed by someone, a bullet accidentally hit Ashok,” said Aulakh.

The local police, meanwhile, arrested Subhash Chand, Bhagat Ram and Pawan Kumar, all residents of Adampur, for their alleged involvement in last night’s incident. A local court, later, sent them in judicial remand till June 28.

Neighbours allege vulgarity
Some residents living in Fiza’s neighbourhood lodged a complaint with the local police on Monday alleging that Chand and Fiza were involved in “vulgar acts” on the terrace of their flat.

Even as some newspersons captured the allegedly “intimate” scenes, the couple categorically denied charges of any “vulgarity”.

Chand, however, told media persons that he was making the “gestures” to “cool down” Fiza’s frayed tempers.