Gangsters terrorising voters ahead of Panchayat elections, claims MP Randhawa

Raising questions over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Wednesday claimed that hardcore gangsters and their accomplices had been ruling the roost ahead of the ensuing Panchayat elections.

Addressing a press conference here, Randhawa alleged that under the patronage of state government, the gangsters were influencing the voters.

Showing a video clip, he claimed that criminal Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s mother and brother were honoured by the AAP halka in-charge of Dera Baba Nanak at his office on Tuesday. “Bhagwanpuria’s brother was felicitated with ‘siropa’ and he claimed to have been elected unanimously as the sarpanch of the village, Bhagwanpuria. I fail to understand how were the Panchayat polls being held when the gangsters’ families were being honoured. Does this mean that the gangsters would govern the rural belts that are already plagued by drug abuse and arms smuggling,” he said.

Citing another instance, he alleged that a gangster, Gopi Goli, who was wanted in over 26-27 cases, has been moving freely and terrorising people in Kalanaur. “I visited a block in Kalanaur and he was present there. However, the police were completely unaware about it. I had reported the matter to the DGP, but no action was taken in this regard. The gangster is a close associate of Bhagwanpuria. In Bhagwanpur village, he and his family members have been openly terrorising people, while the police and the administration have turned a blind eye to it. I have written a letter to the Union Home Minister and Chief Minister in the matter,” he said.

Similarly, he highlighted an incident of open firing in the neighbouring village of Dehriwal Kiran, wherein the three accused fled from the police custody and they have not been arrested till date. While showing another picture of a public gathering, he claimed that a gangster was spotted shaking hands with a state Cabinet minister in the presence of top police officials.  “I have brought all instances to the notice of top police officials, including the DGP and SSP, but again, no action has been taken in the matter. It was a lapse on the part of the government and the police, highlighting grave law and order situation in the border belt,” he said.