FIR lodged as video recording of mayoral poll disrupted; Cong, AAP deny charges

Unidentified councillors reportedly damaged CCTV cameras and snatched a camera from personnel assigned to record the voting process during the mayoral election. The incident took place in the auditorium of Government Medical College yesterday. An FIR has been registered against the newly elected councillors, who remain unidentified, based on a complaint filed by Municipal Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh.

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In his complaint lodged at the Majitha Road police station, the MC Commissioner stated that the swearing-in ceremony and elections for the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor were held in the auditorium of Government Medical College on Monday. A Junior Engineer from the Street Light Department reported that unknown individuals had broken cameras installed in the auditorium and manhandled the camera personnel after the mayor’s election. Additionally, a camera was reportedly snatched from one of the cameramen. The MC Commissioner further alleged that the unidentified councillors shut the main gate of the venue, blocked the road, and created a ruckus. The police have registered a case against unknown individuals under Sections 324(5), 304(2) and 190 of the BNS at Majitha Road police station.

Although the FIR does not name individuals or political parties specifically, it is suspected that Congress councillors may be implicated, as they had staged a demonstration and blocked the entrance to the medical college.

It may be mentioned that Congress councillor Mithu Madan had earlier filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to ensure videographic recording of the election process. Aam Aadmi Party leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal claimed that the entire process was recorded under the directions of the court, and the Municipal Commissioner has access to the video evidence.

Meanwhile, Congress councillor Mithu Madan denied the allegations, stating, “More than 1,000 police personnel, led by senior officers, were present at the venue. How is it possible for councillors to damage the cameras? The truth is that they did not record the election process, thereby violating the High Court’s orders. Now, to cover up their failure, they have fabricated this story. We have procured CCTV footage from the medical college and submitted it to the court for the next hearing, scheduled for tomorrow.”