3 SAD leaders booked in Jalalabad violence case

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, February 3

A day after registration of a criminal case in the Jalalabad poll violence case against 50-60 unidentified persons, three Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders have also been booked.

These leaders are SAD Fazilka unit president Ashok Aneja; Davinder Singh Babbal, former chairman, market committee, Jalalabad, and Jagsir Singh, alias Babbu Jaimalwala, former president, Truck Operators’ Union, Jalalabad, along with five to six unidentified persons.

The SAD leaders have been booked on the basis of a statement by Congress worker Ranjit Singh who alleged the leaders opened fire during the violence which took place in the tehsil complex at the time of filing of nomination papers for the MC poll on Tuesday. Ranjit Singh was “injured” in the violence.

After the violence, an FIR was registered on the statement of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s OSD Satinderjit Singh Manta against 50-60 unidentified persons under Sections 307, 323, 148, 149 and 427 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.

Manta had alleged in the FIR that when they entered the complex, Jalalabad Congress MLA Raminder Singh Awla, his son Jatin Awla and 50-60 persons were already present there. He alleged they assaulted them with stones and sticks. The official vehicle of Sukhbir was also damaged. Manta alleged Jatin Awla had opened fire on them. The police had registered an FIR against unidentified persons, saying the violence occurred due to political rivalry between the two groups. To find the real culprits, a through probe was needed, the FIR reads.

Fazilka SSP Harjeet Singh said the police were checking the CCTV cameras to find out the truth behind the violence. He said 300 police personnel had been deployed at the tehsil complex for hassle-free filing of nomination papers.

Meanwhile, SAD president and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal today reached Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, to meet his three supporters who sustained injuries in the firing at the Jalalabad tehsil complex yesterday.

Party slams EC

Chandigarh: The SAD on Wednesday said the state Election Commission (EC) had failed in its duty to protect the life and liberty of people in the run-up to the MC poll and should be wound up immediately.

After meeting the Election Commissioner, ex-minister Daljit Singh Cheema said the former was proving to be a burden on the exchequer as he had openly expressed his helplessness in giving any relief against murderous attacks on SAD workers. TNS