Police get Bhai Baldeep academy vacated

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 4

Without possessing a court order, the Sultanpur Lodhi police today got the premises of Anad Foundation, a music academy, vacated. The academy was being run by AAP leader and legendary musician Bhai Baldeep Singh in the historical Qila Sarai of Kapurthala.

Even though Bhai Baldeep claims to have permission to use two rooms, the police stacked all his musical instruments and other items outside the building. Singh has even uploaded a copy of the allotment letter issued by the then DSP on May 9, 2011 on Facebook. However, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Davinder Singh claimed that the foundation had failed to show any authorisation to occupy the rooms in the sarai.

Since the Sultanpur Lodhi Police Station and the DSP’s office are also housed in the sarai, the DSP claimed, “It was no longer feasible for the police to let the foundation occupy the rooms near the police station as it was a security issue. We vacated the rooms after asking them to do so repeatedly.”

Bhai Baldeep Singh, who unsuccessfully fought Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha poll last year, accused the police of harassing him. He alleged the police were even threatening to arrest the students if they didn’t stop coming to the institute. He also alleged the police ill-treated the students, pushing them around.

Bhai Baldeep Singh had been teaching students how to play various traditional musical instruments at the academy. He has also been holding musical programmes at the sarai on full-moon nights.