M A I N   N E W S

Punjab Votes ’07
Dimpa’s brother surrenders
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Beas, February 9
The beleaguered Congress MLA, Mr Jasbir Singh Dimpa, today joined investigations following summons by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), even as his younger brother Harpinder Singh Rajan and Mr Balkar Singh, Chairman, Block Samiti, Rayya, surrendered before the police, here today.

They were booked by the Beas police in connection with a firing incident that resulted in the death of an Akali worker on January 29.

High drama preceded the surrender by Mr Rajan and Mr Balkar Singh.

Though mediapersons were told that the two would surrender at 6 pm, the duo surrendered in the police station at 8 pm. There was a heavy posse of police in front of the election office of Mr Dimpa where he addressed his supporters in an effort to keep their morale high.

The S.P. Majitha, Mr Parmjit Singh Khehra, and the DSP, Baba Bakala , Mr Kulwinder Singh Thyara, were present in the election office of Mr Dimpa.

The police had taken all precautionary measures in the wake of a large number of supporters of Mr Dimpa who had gathered there to express solidarity with him. Mr Dimpa repeatedly appealed to them to remain ‘cool’.

In a representation to the Election Commission, Mr Dimpa said since his brother and another confidant had surrendered, there was no reason that the polling in Beas was held on March 3. He said the polling should be held simultaneously with the Valtoha election.

A number of social and political organisations also sent telegrams to the CEC to this effect.