By IANS,
Ludhiana: With the monsoon continuing to play truant in Punjab, two farmers lost their lives in a village near here after they were clubbed to death following a row over sharing canal water in paddy fields.
The farmers, Gurmit Singh and Baldev Singh who were brothers, were allegedly clubbed to death by migrant labourers at the behest of another farmer, Gurcharan Singh, police officials of Ludhiana-rural said Sunday.
The victims had an argument with Gurcharan Singh Saturday following which they were attacked. The victims were then buried in one of the fields.
The killings took place in Jalaldiwal village near here, 130 km from Chandigarh.
The argument was over sharing water from an irrigation canal.
Police officials said all three accused, including two migrant labourers from Bihar, were arrested and charged with murder.
This is the first major incident of violence owing to water scarcity in Punjab. The state contributes over 50 percent of the total foodgrain stock of the country. However, paddy production could take a hit this year as due to scanty rains.