Women level beating charge against sarpanch

Gagandeep Singh

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 21

A former woman sarpanch of Beas Pind village in the district today alleged that she and her mother-in-law had been beaten up last night by the Akali sarpanch of the village after levelling allegations against them of performing black magic in the village.

Kamla Devi (50), the former sarpanch, said, “Her brother-in-law, who is an alcoholic, ran away from home last night at around 11 after fighting with his wife while he was under the influence of alcohol. My sister in-law, mother in-law and my daughter went after him to pacify the situation.”

“While they were on their way to find him, Rakesh Kumar cousin of Akali sarpach, Sanjeev Mander, called up his companions along with the sarpanch and they terribly beat up my mother-in-law, Sito Devi (70), blaming her for performing black magic. When I went there for their rescue, they also beat me up,” she alleged.

Kamla Devi said she called at 100 for help from the police. The police came in after a while, yet they did nothing. Her mother-in-law was still hospitalised at Primary Health Centre, Kalabakra, she added.

The sarpach, Sanjeev Mander, termed all allegations baseless and complete lies.

He said the women were known to be performing black magic in the village. They were about to perform black magic yesterday at the cremation ground. Yet no one from the village hit them.

There are rival groups in the village that were making false allegations against him.

Police post Kishangarh, in-charge, ASI Baljinder Singh, said he got to know about the incident in the night when they lodged a complaint at 100. The police party rushed to the spot immediately. “No complaint has been lodged by the victims directly to them so far. Moreover, we have yet to receive the MLR from the hospital. We will pursue the matter after the MLR comes,” he added.