4 Cong men booked for Malout attack

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, October 23

The Malout city police have booked 13 persons, including state Congress secretary Shubhdeep Singh ‘Bittu’ and three other party leaders, for last night’s attack on Parminder Singh Kolianwali, son of SAD’s Muktsar district chief Dyal Singh Kolianwali. No arrest has been made so far.

A case has been registered under Sections 307, 323, 506, 427, 148, 149 and 120-B of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The co-accused include Bakshish Singh Sidhu, former president, Truck Operators’ Union, Malout; his son Dhanjit Singh ‘Dhanna’; and nephew Manpreet Singh ‘Manna’, all residents of Malout town.

Sources said the attack was the fallout of an old rivalry, which had started when Shubhdeep and Bakshish left the SAD and joined the Congress about eight years ago. The duo had unsuccessfully contested the municipal elections from Malout in 2015 on the Congress ticket.

Dyal Singh had given the SAD ticket to Sham Lal Gupta ‘Duddy’, the main accused in the job scam. The latter had defeated Bakshish, while BJP’s Sham Lal Solanki had got the better of Shubhdeep. Congressmen had accused SAD leaders, including Dyal Singh, of booth capturing.

Shubhdeep, Bakshish and others were booked in May 2015 for allegedly blocking the national highway in Malout on the polling day for the municipal elections. They had demanded the release of two party activists who were picked up for allegedly thrashing an Akali supporter. In February 2015, a group of SAD activists had allegedly assaulted ‘Manna’, who suffered a head injury.

Shubhdeep said, “We have been booked for plotting the attack. It’s a false charge.”

“We have told the police that two of our supporters were injured. One of them suffered a bullet injury on the foot and was admitted to a Faridkot hospital. Their statements could not be recorded last night as they were declared unfit at that time. Now, the police will investigate and register a cross-case,” he added.

In his complaint to the police, Parminder said he and his employee were travelling in his car when Manna, Dhanna and others fired at them. He claimed that their accomplices hit him with sticks and rods at the behest of Shubhdeep and Bakshish.

Sushil Kumar, SSP, Muktsar, said, “On the basis of Parminder’s statement, we have booked 13 persons, including four by name. The other group has also lodged a complaint, which will be investigated.”

Congress targeting Akalis: Badal 

Bathinda: Former CM Parkash Singh Badal on Monday visited Parminder Singh Kolianwali at a private hospital here. He lashed out at the Congress government over the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state. He said the police ignored the victim’s complaint of receiving threats from the accused. TNS

It’s jungle raj: Sukhbir 

Chandigarh: Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday condemned the attack on Parminder Kolianwali, saying it was symptomatic of the “jungle raj” prevailing in Punjab under the Congress rule. In a statement here, he said incidents of attacks on Akali leaders and workers started right after the formation of the Congress government. He alleged that Kolianwali’s son was not given adequate protection despite his repeated requests. “Akali workers were attacked at numerous places. False cases are being registered against Akali sarpanches and councillors to make them toe the Congress line,” he alleged. TNS