Villagers allege inaction, hit out at Badals

Ropar: Irate over the alleged police inaction in the accident wherein a local resident was crushed to death reportedly by a bus of Dabwali Transport owned by the Badals, the villagers have decided to wage a war against the state government and district administration.

Villagers gather at the accident site

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 9

Irate over the alleged police inaction in the accident wherein a local resident was crushed to death reportedly by a bus of Dabwali Transport owned by the Badals, the villagers have decided to wage a war against the state government and district administration.

They continued their dharna at the mishap site along with the body of the deceased, Swaran Singh of Behrampur Zamindara village, in a freezer. They alleged the police were trying to shield the accused as the bus belonged to ruling Badal family.

The anger against the Akali Dal government, particularly the Badals, was apparent as the protesters repeatedly raised slogans against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal. They alleged an innocent person had been booked to protect Dabwali Transport bus driver and its owner.

The speakers addressing the protesters preferred to focus on criticising Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal.

Victim had big plans for kids

Manjit Kaur, deceased Swaran Singh’s wife, was inconsolable. She said: “My husband would reach home by 6.30 am after his duty at a nearby factory. Today, all we got was the news of his death at the same time,” she said. “I have a son and a daughter. My husband wanted our son to become an engineer and daughter a doctor. Now, all this will not be possible as we have lost our sole bread-winner,” Manjit Kaur said.

Arrangements at protest site

The residents started making arrangements for a nightlong dharna on the road. Generator sets were brought to the spot to operate fans, tubelights and public addressing system. Food and water was brought by villagers for the protesters. Donations too started pouring in to sustain the agitation.

Local politicians gathered at the spot to support the bereaved family. Chamkaur Sahib MLA Charanjit Singh Channi, Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljit Nagra, district Congress president Harbhag Singh, Congress Nangal block president Paramjit Singh Pamma, AAP leaders Dilpreet Gill, Col LJS Gill and BSP leader Avtar Singh Karimpuri backed the protest.