SANGRUR (Punjab)Mr. Harchand Singh Longowal, President of Akali Dal was shot at Village Sherpur, about seven kilometers from here, He was addressing a public meeting when assailants opened fire at him. His bodyguards numbering over seventy, including the government provided paramilitary personnel, returned the fire, in the crossfire one Akali worker was killed and a number of persons among the audience were injured. Mr. Longowal fell unconscious and was removed to the civil hospital, Sangrur, A helicopter was summoned to take him the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research, Chandigarh but finding his condition deteriorating, urgent signal was sent to arrange for a team of top surgeons. The team headed by the renowned surgeon Kuldip Singh, head of Surgery department, was still on its way when Longowal succumbed to the bullet injuries at 9:32 p.m. (1.5.1). He never regained consciousness as he was hit at some vital point besides a bullet each in the abdomen and the arm.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1988
