Assault accused let off after MLA’s aide gives clean chit

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 21

In a twist in the case of an assault on AAP MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa, his personal assistant (PA) Jaspal Singh, alias Palli, has given the clean chit to one of the eight suspects held after the incident on June 21. Palli is the complainant in the case.

Police sources said Palli reportedly told the police that the said accused, Amrit Singh, did not hit him and rather tried to protect him from the assailants. Following this, the police filed an application in an Anandpur Sahib court where Palli deposed in favour of Amrit. The court discharged Amrit on Tuesday, the sources said.

He was arrested after he was found thrashing Palli in the video clips of the incident. Palli, however, said the person seen hitting him in the video was not Amrit.

When contacted, Ropar SSP Swapan Sharma confirmed that the police had arrested Amrit after he was seen slapping Palli in the video.

Meanwhile, a Ropar court on Saturday granted bail to three other accused in the case — Jaswinder, alias Goldy, Amarjit Singh and Manjit Singh. Two accused, Mohan Singh and Davinder Singh, are already out on bail.

On June 21, Sandoa, accompanied by his PA, two gunmen and mediapersons, had visited a quarry near Harsa Bela village in the district. They had alleged that the mining mafia was active in the area.

Ajvinder Singh, a mining contractor, and his aides allegedly attacked the MLA and those accompanying him. In the video clips shot by mediapersons, the assailants were seen slapping Palli and hitting him with sticks.