Students union leader booked for climbing DC’s car bonnet

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 13

Ten days after a student leader climbed on to the bonnet of the Deputy Commissioner’s car during a protest in front of the latter’s office here, the Faridkot police on Monday registered a criminal case under Section 353 and 186 of the IPC for the offence of using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duties.

On the complaint by the Deputy Commissioner office, the case has been registered against Rajinder Singh, state president of the Punjab Students’ Union (PSU). The offence under Section 353 of the IPC is non-bailable.

On August 2, while demanding registration of a criminal case against the principals of two government colleges in the district and the DPI (Colleges), Punjab, for charging admission fee from a large number of SC students, members of some organisations staged a dharna in front of the office of the Faridkot Deputy Commissioner here.

The protest was organised under the banner of the PSU. During the protest, Rajinder Singh allegedly climbed on to bonnet of the DC’s car to address students.

In Faridkot, the students held the agitation against the district administration and Education Department for more than two weeks on the issue of charging admission and PTA fund fee from SC students at the time of their admission.

The students called off their agitation last week after an assurance by the state government over not charging any admission fee from the students.

The police took over 10 days in registering the case against the PSU leader.

Sources said the police and district administration were highly cautious in proceeding with the registration of the criminal case, keeping in view its repercussions.

Rajinder Singh alleged that the criminal case against him was a pressure building tactic of the district administration so that they could not dare to raise their voice for the students’ demand.