Akali sarpanch booked for sheltering gangsters

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, January 19

The Moga police have booked the Akali sarpanch of Buttar Kalan village, Jaswinder Singh, on a tip-off that he not only gave shelter to gangsters like Vicky Gounder at his residence, but also kept their weapons safely with himself.

A case under Sections 212, 216 and 216-A of the IPC and Sections of the Arms Act has been registered against him at the Badhni Kalan police station. The SHO of Badhni Kalan police station Bhupinder Kaur said she got a tip-off that Jaswinder provided logistical support to gangsters. He is yet to be arrested.

Meanwhile, the Akali sarpanch denied the allegations and said that it was case of political vendetta because the panchayat elections were drawing near. The Congress government has started harassing village-level Akali leaders, he alleged.On February 18, 2016, an attempt was made by gangsters to kill the Akali sarpanch. He, along with panchayat member Gurprem Singh, escaped unhurt when three persons fired at them.

The gangsters took away arms and cartridges from the sarpanch’s car after breaking the window panes before fleeing.

On July 5, 2016, Jaswinder was booked for murder and attempt to murder along with two others. The three accused allegedly opened fire at a marriage function leaving a man dead and another injured. The deceased was identified as Amaninder Singh, a resident of Buttar Kalan village. A worker of catering contractor Karamjit Singh was injured in the firing.

On May 18, 2017, Jaswinder and his associates were booked on the charge of liquor smuggling. As many as 63 cases (756 bottles) of country-made liquor were seized from a tubewell room on the land taken on lease by Jaswinder for cultivation.

‘Kept weapons safe’

The Moga police had got a a tip-off that Akali sarpanch of Buttar Kalan village Jaswinder Singh not only gave shelter to gangsters like Vicky Gounder, but also kept their weapons safely with himself.

Accused denies charge

The accused sarpanch denied the allegations and said that it was case of political vendetta as the panchayat elections were near. The Congress government has started harassing village-level Akali leaders, he alleged.