Cong, BJP workers hurl stones

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 21

Workers of the Congress and the BJP indulged in stone pelting at Puneet Nagar on the Tibba road this evening after the Congress workers alleged that the latter were distributing blankets in the ward.

Leaders of both parties were campaign for the MC elections when the incident happened.

Timely intervention by the police prevented a clash. One of the Congress workers suffered injuries in the clash.

The Congress workers alleged that the BJP leaders distributed blankets to influence voters in their favour and when they tried to stop them from doing so, the BJP workers started pelting them with stones.

ADCP Rajvir Singh, ACP (East) Pawanjit Chaudhary and teams from separate police stations reached the spot to defuse the situation. The police reportedly detained some BJP workers.

Congress candidate from Ward No. 15 Kanchan Malhotra’s husband Satish Malhotra said they were conducting door-to-door campaign at Puneet Nagar when they noticed some BJP workers distributing blankets and other household items to voters. “When we went to stop them, they indulged in arguments. We then informed police. In no time, the BJP workers in large numbers gathered there and started pelting us with stones. One of our workers, Rajesh Chopra, suffered injuries. If the police had not intervened, the BJP workers would have used cold drink bottles as they had a huge stock of the same,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Ward No. 15, Pooja Rai said she owned a shop of blankets on the Gaushala road from where some persons yesterday bought a huge stock of blankets and the same blankets were distributed by some persons belonging to the Congress. It is clearly a conspiracy of the Congress, she added.

The ADCP said “We have detained some BJP workers who hurled stones. We will sent a report to the election observer for further action. We have deployed forces to tackle any law and order situation in the area,” he added.