Book Cong men for thrashing SAD worker: Dera Bassi MLA

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, September 21

Cautioning Congress workers against mixing religion and politics and hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, Dera Bassi MLA NK Sharma, along with hundreds of supporters of the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal, staged a protest here today.

The MLA accused the police of shielding Congress workers who had allegedly thrashed Dalit SAD worker Malkit Singh during the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti polls. Malkit was also pulled down by his beard during the elections, thereby hurting religious sentiments.

In a strong message to his party workers that he stood by them, NK Sharma, along with party workers and SGPC members, including Paramjit Kaur Landran, Ajmer Singh Khera and Charanjit Singh Kalewal, converged beneath the Dera Bassi flyover and exerted pressure on the police by holding a protest to get a case registered against the Congress workers. He also demanded the withdrawal of two FIRs registered against Akalis councillors and party workers on behest of the ruling party.

The situation became tensed when the protesters, led by NK Sharma, began to proceed towards the Dera Bassi police station against the registration of FIRs against Akali councillors and workers a day after the rural polls. However, the police force under the supervision of Harmandeep Hans, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dera Bassi, and station house officers, deputed in order to thwart any untoward incident, was able to persuade them from marching ahead.

SAD worker Manjeet Singh, in the presence of the MLA and the SGPC members, also presented the snapshots and a video in which he could be seen with blood oozing out from his finger. The incident occurred outside a polling booth at Trivedi Camp, Mubarikpur village, near Dera Bassi, during the rural polls.

Manjeet told mediapersons that when he was standing outside the polling station, two Congress workers, along with others, reportedly caught hold of him and thrashed him. One of them also pulled his beard, he alleged.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, police officials intervened and tried to convince the Akali leaders to lift the dharna, but the supporters remained adamant. It was only when ASP Harmandeep Hans marked an enquiry in the matter and assured the protesters of thoroughly investigating the incident and delivering the outcome within seven days, the protesters lifted the dharna.

Soon after lifting the dharna, NK Sharma and Paramjit Kaur Landran, while speaking to mediapersons, said the police were requested to book the accused for manhandling SAD worker Manjeet Singh. They said if nothing comes out of the enquiry within seven days, they would intensify their stir and sit on a hunger strike at Dera Bassi.

The ASP said both groups had been levelling allegations against each other and the facts were being verified. He stated that those found guilty would be booked as per the law.