MLA alleges political victimisation of Cong workers, threatens stir

Our Correspondent

UNA, MARCH 19

Accompanied by Congress party workers, Una MLA Satpal Raizada on Monday reached the office of the SP, questioning him for taking pradhan of Nangran panchayat into custody. He alleged that police were following the dictates of BJP state president and former Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti, who, he said, was victimising elected panchayat members owing allegiance to the Congress party.

After a prolonged argument between the SP and MLA lasting one-and-a half hours, the latter threatened to launch an agitation if the police did not stop the alleged political victimisation at the behest of the party in power.

Nangran panchayat pradhan Ran Vijay is reportedly a mining contractor and has taken a portion of the Swan river tributaries on lease from the mining department for extraction of construction material that includes sand and gravel.

Some residents of Nangran village had reportedly complained to the police regarding illegal mining in the area and the police had conducted a raid on Sunday. Three tippers, which were found overloaded with sand and gravel, were challaned. Incidentally, these vehicles belonged to the panchayat pradhan.

Later in the day, the atmosphere in the village got tense. Apprehending breach of peace, the police took Ran Vijay into custody under Sections 107 and 151 IPC. He was kept in the police lockup during the night.

Raizada and his supporters marched from the SP office to the PWD Rest House, raising slogans against the BJP and Satti. Raizada alleged that the police had yet not investigated the Mehatpur incident in which the mother of a Congress worker was beaten up and another incident in which a couple owing allegiance to the Congress party were manhandled.

SP Devakar Sharma said after the panchayat pradhan’s vehicles were challaned, the latter had reportedly argued with some persons and the situation became tense. He said police officials tried to intervene, but the attitude of the pradhan was arrogant, adding that he was kept in police custody for the night to avoid any breach of peace.