Gangsters threaten aspirants contesting panchayat elections

Gangsters continue to threaten candidates contesting the panchayat elections. Lakhbir Singh Rataul, leader of the ruling AAP, who is contesting for the post of sarpanch of Mallia Khurd village received a threat call by gangster Satta Naushehra Pannua. The gangster demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh from him. In his complaint to the police, Lakhbir stated that on October 8, when he was busy in work at his home Satta Naushehra contacted him through WhatsApp call and demanded Rs 50 lakh ransom.

Satta is associate of gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa. Lakhbir said he disconnected the call, but Satta kept on calling him for another half-an-hour. Lakhbir said he did not answer calls. The police registered a case under Section 308 of the BNS on Thursday in this connection.

In another incident, Jasbir Singh, a resident of Kot Dharam Chand Kalan village, who is contesting for the post of sarpanch of his village, stated that gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa had warned him against contesting the panchayat elections. Jasbir said as nomination papers of other candidate were rejected by the authorities concerned, he was the only aspirant left in the poll fray and his victory was sure.

Jasbir suspected that his opponents might be behind threats given to him by gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa. Landa had threatened Jasbir to kill him in case he failed to withdraw his candidature.

ASI Sukhdev Singh of the Chabal police station said a case under Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered against Lakhbir Singh Landa in this connection.