Now, publicity van of Bains vandalised

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 31

Supporters of the SAD candidate from Atam Nagar Gurmeet Singh Kular and Congress candidate Kanwaljit Singh Karwal allegedly damaged the publicity van of the Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) candidate Simarjit Singh Bains at the Janta Nagar chowk this afternoon.

A windowpane of the van was smashed with swords and iron rods. An LED TV set fixed on the van was also damaged. Bains alleged that one of their supporters, Tejpal, was kidnapped by the assailants and he was still untraceable. The assailants also attacked the driver of the publicity van.

In the melee, a photojournalist of a local vernacular daily, Happy, also suffered injuries. He was taking photographs as the assailants carrying swords damaged the van. The assailants assaulted him and snatched his camera.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot. The assailants had escaped by the time they reached the spot.

The publicity van carrying a giant LED TV was propagating the achievements of the Bains brothers and their future plans for the state. Besides, short films highlighting the state of affairs during the SAD-BJP government, including prevalent drug menace and illegal mining, were played on the LED set.

Bains said the SAD and the Congress supporters allegedly damaged the van. He said Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh was apprised of the issue but he was dilly-dallying on registering a case. A complaint has also been lodged with the Election Commission.

The Police Commissioner said a case had been slapped on Honey Singh and unknown persons. Raids were on to nab the assailants.

Meanwhile, Gurmeet Kular and Kanwaljit Karwal told mediapersons that their supporters had not committed any such act, rather Bains was making fake accusations against their supporters.

Yesterday, the car of Karwal’s wife was attacked by unknown persons and Karwal had accused the Bains brothers of orchestrating the attack.