Complaints flood panel probing ‘excesses’ during Akali-BJP rule

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 27

The two-member commission of inquiry set up by the Capt Amarinder Singh government has so far received more than 2,500 complaints of alleged excesses committed against Congress workers during the SAD-BJP regime.

A number of persons who were not affiliated with any party have also approached the commission. Justice Mehtab Singh Gill (retd) heads the commission, while senior judge BS Mehndiratta (retd) is a member. The commission was set up in April on the insistence of Congress workers.

Of late, some section of party leaders have accused the CM of not taking action against some Akali leaders or their aides who had allegedly harassed not just workers, but also some senior leaders.

On an average, over 250 complaints are being received daily by the commission by post daily for the last few days. It is functioning from Forest Complex in Mohali. “We have decided to accept complaints even after June 30, the deadline for filing complaints,” said an official.

Nearly 20 per cent of the complainants have alleged they were booked in false drugs smuggling cases at the behest of a political leader. “We are yet to classify the complaints into categories. It is proving to be a difficult task,” the official said.

The first summons have been issued to some police officers and lower rung political leaders for appearing before the commission on July 10. The commission has not revealed the identity of those summoned.

It has put on notice nearly 100 police officers for responding to a complaint or for obtaining documents related to a complaint. The list includes high-ranking officers also.

The process of filing the complaint has been made simple. It involves filling one form supplied by the commission. The complainant has to attach an affidavit and two witnesses with copies of the FIR(s). The complainant can submit the application by hand or by post. The staff even supplies printed slips of its correspondence address in English for the convenience of the complainants.

20% ‘framed’ in drug cases

• A two-member commission of inquiry has been set up by the Congress government to prove alleged excesses committed against party workers during the SAD-BJP regime
• On an average, over 250 complaints are being received daily by the commission for the last few days 
• Nearly 20 per cent of the complainants have alleged they were booked in false drugs smuggling cases at the behest of a political leader