Farmer’s complaint instigates march
Bathinda: Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh stormed a local police station after a farmer accused Akali leaders of grabbing his land. The police reportedly gave an assurance to the farmer, Baldev Singh, to resolve the matter in 10 days.
Amarinder was holding his “Halke Vich Captain” programme at Jassi Bagwali when the farmer came up with his complaint and expressed his helplessness over the matter.
The former CM, accompanied by scores of supporters, took Baldev Singh to the police station and raised the matter of his alleged harassment with DSP Gurjit Singh Romana. Baldev Singh alleged that his land was forcibly taken over and he was booked in a false case for his being a Congress supporter.
Amarinder warned the police officers against harassing the common man. “You will have to account for every offence of omission and commission committed against Congress workers. Respect the uniform you are wearing and ensure that you resort to no injustice at the behest of the Akalis,” he told them.
Except for a brief mention about failed cotton crop by Gehru village farmers and unavailability of clean water at certain places, the entire session was dominated with complaints by workers and leaders about the alleged police atrocities.
Harcharan Singh, a four-time former sarpanch of Maur village, said he was booked in a false case at the behest of a SAD leader. He was later acquitted by the court, but he faced harassment.
Karamjit Singh of Phul said he was wrongly booked in a theft case while the matter pertained to heated arguments over development issue. He said he had not been summoned by the police as yet, but the matter had been kept pending to harass him since he was a Congressman.
