Stir over attack on Sharma; Khaira sees law and order crumbling

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 21

Though police officials claim that they have got vital clues in connection with the Tuesday’s attack on former AAP district president Suresh Sharma, shopkeepers in Chheharta held a demonstration over “deteriorating law and order” on Wednesday. They demanded immediate arrest of the suspects. Meanwhile, senior leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira met Sharma in a private hospital. He, too, said that there was no law and order in the state.

The shopkeepers in Chheharta kept their outlets shut for almost an hour before Police Commissioner SS Srivastav, along with police officials, reached there and assured them that the accused would be arrested within a week.

Suresh Sharma is still critical and he has been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU). He had sustained three bullet injuries in his legs. One bullet missed him. He was at his furniture shop when a youth with covered face fired at him. The police have found a CCTV grab of the incident and found that the assailant’s accomplice had parked his scooter at some distance. They fled away after the attack.

The shopkeepers said that there had been a complete failure of law and order in the state. Though the police are at high alert following a grenade attack at Nirankari Bhavan in Adliwal village, armed accused managed to shoot an AAP leader and escape, they said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Lakhbir Singh said they had got some vital clues of the suspects. They would be arrested soon, he said.

Former leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira said Sharma was still serious. He said there was no law and order in the state. Punjab needs a regular Home Minister. “Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has no time. His health doesn’t allow him to work. The state needs a regular Home Minister. The cops, who were deputed with VIPs, should be brought back and deputed on field duty in order to maintain law and order,” he said after meeting Sharma in a private hospital. He demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

Veteran BJP leader Laxmi Kanta Chawla, in a statement, said the incident had posed a big challenge before the police. She also appealed to the political leaders not to issue statements laced with vested interests which could harm the peaceful atmosphere in Punjab. She pointed out that politicians of the ruling and Opposition parties were levelling allegations and counter allegations and they should avoid this.