M A I N   N E W S

Mohali cops book Dhami for sedition
Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 9
Within a day of the Punjab Police having picked up Khalistan ideologue Dr Jagjit Singh Chohan, the Mohali police today arrested Khalistan sympathiser Kanwarpal Singh Dhami of the Akal Federation on charges of sedition and making anti-national statements.

A team from the Phase I police station here led by SHO Satnam Singh picked up Dhami this evening, reportedly from the premises of Dhami’s Guru Asra Trust at Palsora in Chandigarh.

He has been booked under Sections 124-A (Sedition), 124-B (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 153-B (making imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.

Confirming the development, the IG, Patiala Range, Mr S.K. Sharma, said taking cognizance of the Zee TV talk show “Desh Droh” aired on March 6, a case had been registered against Dhami and others in Mohali.

He said the others shown on the TV programme, including and Daljeet Singh Bitooo, were likely to be arrested under similar charges.

Dhami had along with Jagjit Singh Chauhan, been shown on a television making statements regarding the creation of “Khalistan”. The talk show had reportedly shown Chohan making statements to the effect that “Khalistan” would be a reality by the end of 2007.

The Punjab Police chief, Mr S.S. Virk, had taken serious note of the statements and written to the Home Secretary in this regard, demanding screening of such programmes.

Dhami along with his wife run the Guru Asra Trust here. The trust takes care of orphaned children of slain terrorists, educating them and organising their marriages.