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After lying low for 3 years, Punjab
Police get back at Daduwal
Jupinderjit Singh & Bharat Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Bathinda, September 1
The Punjab police had recently arrested Baljit Singh Daduwal, a preacher-turned-head of a sect near Bathinda, under those FIRs in which they had withdrawn the most serious charges. The police had also recommended cancellation of certain IPC Sections in the FIR to the courts concerned.

The police said they had reopened the cases only as the complainants in the FIRs had made repeated pleas for reinvestigation. Daduwal’s family members have alleged that he is being targeted for supporting the formation of the Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC). They also link his arrest with the SAD-BJP’s victory in the Talwandi Sabo byelections where over 15,000 dera votes made a substantial impact.

Sources said the national intelligence agencies were keeping a close watch on the development, as in the past politics and deras had led to much bloodshed.

Documents with The Tribune reveal that Daduwal along with nine others was arrested under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (use of force to deter public servant from discharging of his duty), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 186, 148 and 149 of the IPC and various Sections of the Arms Act at the Jaitu police station in Faridkot on March 16, 2009, on the complaint of Sub-inspector Gurlabh Singh, ASI Rashpal Singh and others after Daduwal’s supporters clashed with the police over his religious congregation. However, on March 24, 2009, the police cancelled Sections 307, 323 and 324 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act and released Daduwal and others on March 31. The police cancellation report said when the accused presented licences of the weapons, they dropped the attempt to murder charge also.

On August 14, 2014, the Jaitu police on the complaint of former ASI Rashpal Singh and former SI Bhalla Singh, have re-imposed the attempt to murder charge on Daduwal and others in the same old case. On January 2, 2011, about 60 identified and about 700 unidentified persons were booked (in an open FIR) for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act following another clash between the police and supporters of Daduwal in Bhikhi town of Mansa. Sixty-one accused, including Daduwal, were arrested. However, they were released after two days following the dropping of the charge of attempt to murder. A few days later, the police revised the FIR again clamping criminal conspiracy (Section 120) on Daduwal and others for making a provocative speech. He was not arrested.

Law allows to reopen cases: Police

The Section 307 of the IPC was not cancelled. The accused were released on conditions that for the time being custodial enquiry was not needed. Under law, any complainant can file the application for re-investigation of case.~ Sukhdev SIngh Kahlon ssp, faridkot.