Cable operators lock Fastway offices

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 22

With the change of guard in the state, the much anticipated dispute over a private channel allegedly run by Akali stakeholders has begun. Cable operators who were operating in 2006-07 forcefully locked offices of Fastway Cable Operators in Sanaur and Devigarh towns of Patiala district today.

The matter has reached the respective police stations but no formal complaints have been made. Sources said the old cable operators had been very annoyed with the SAD-BJP government since it came to power in 2007 as their cable services were allegedly taken over forcibly and they were “thrown out” of their offices.

They said the resentment kept brewing but there was no one to support them all these years. However, soon after the Congress came to power, they decided to take back “their” properties, considering they were shareholders in the cable services, they said.

Sub-Inspector Vijay Kumar said, “Yuvraj Singh, who locked a Fastway office today, has shown us an agreement made in 2006-07. In the agreement, the property stands in his name and it states that he is the owner of 52 per cent shares in this cable service. However, he alleged that Vikas Puri took over the entire network in the area, ousting them. We will take action once the investigation is complete.”