Booked for murder bid, SAD leader yet to be held

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 23

Even though several months have passed since local SAD leader Bhupinder Singh allegedly fired at a student’s relative outside the Punjab Public School (PPS), Nabha, the police have failed to arrest him.

The police booked Bhupinder Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Harkirat Singh and Harsimran Singh for attempt to murder on March 31, but did not arrest them.

In an ongoing rivalry, Bhupinder had allegedly fired at complainant Gurmanjot Singh after a heated exchange in front of the school. Gurmanjot is a close relative of a PPS student, who is at loggerheads with Bhupinder’s son, who is also a student of PPS. The victim’s family alleged the police were shielding Bhupinder at the behest of an Akali leader.

Sources said Bhupinder Singh, a former zila parishad member, whose wife is also a SAD leader and chairperson of the Sanaur Block Samiti, was reportedly close to Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. On Friday, Bhupinder was seen getting a photograph taken with Rakhra at the latter’s residence.

The police said they did not arrest the accused as he had approached senior officers and a probe was pending in the case. “The police are shielding the accused because of his political clout,” said a Congress leader.

“The complainant alleged that Bhupinder had fired at him. An FIR was registered,” said Amanpal Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), Nabha.

Senior advocate Barjinder Sodhi said it seemed that the police were trying to delay natural justice and protect the accused by ordering a probe. Rakhra said the police should arrest those involved in heinous crimes. Jaskiranjit Teja, Superintendent of Police (SP), Patiala, said he got the order to probe the matter a fortnight ago and would soon dispatch the report.