AAP alleges attack by Cong candidate on supporters

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19

Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have accused the Congress candidate from Ward No. 80, Maharaj Singh Raji, and his aides of attacking’ their supporters. They also accused the police of detaining them instead of taking action against Raji, who is a former councillor.

Following intervention of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the AAP MLA, Sarvjit Kaur Manuke, the four residents of Ward No. 80 were released from the Division No. 4 police station.

Hari Om Bittu (55) of Haibowal alleged that Raji and his aides allegedly thrashed him when he went to purchase food from a dhaba in Haibowal last night.

“I went to the Haibowal police station and the Jagatpuri police, but nobody listened to our grievance last night. I then visited Division No. 4 police station at around 2 am, but officials asked me to come again in the morning,” he claimed.

“When I along with my son and other persons were going to the police station, Raji and his men came in a black SUV and stopped our car. As market people had gathered there, they left the place. We then came to a shop in Haibowal where Raji’s brother-in-law started abusing us. To save our lives, we downed the shutter of the shop. We then informed the police about the incident,” said Bittu.

“When the police reached there, they took me and three others, including Varun Kumar Heera, Ashwani Handa and Sunny, to police station at Division No. 4. Instead of taking action against attackers, they detained us at the police station. It was sheer harassment for us,” he added.

“These four persons were saving themselves from attack, but the police took them into custody and attackers were spared,” said Ahbaab Singh Grewal, state general secretary of the AAP at the police station.

Meanwhile, Manuke said, “We met Police Commissioner to seek release of arrested AAP supporters. If any scuffle took place between the two groups, why persons of one group were arrested? They were released only after we gave personal undertaking to the police. Congressmen are frustrated due to which they are targeting our party supporters and workers.”

On the other hand, the Congress candidate from Ward No. 80, Maharaj Singh, denied the allegations. He said, “Hari Om Bittu is leveling false allegations against me as there was no scuffle. Moreover, I didn’t file any complaint against Bittu or anyother person. Bittu and AAP leaders are telling lies.”

The SHO, Division No. 4 police station, Rajwant Singh, claimed that nobody was arrested or detained and refused to comment anymore.