Mohali industrialists trade blows over possession of assn office

Two groups of the Mohali Industries Association (MIA) came to blows over the possession of its office in Phase 7 today. Mukesh Bansal, a claimant to the post of president, said members of the Baljit Singh group did not allow him to enter the office to execute the Mohali SDM’s orders.

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Bansal alleged the members of Baljit Singh group dragged him inside and thrashed him. “The police colluded with them and remained a mute spectator,” he claimed. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital.

The Baljit Singh group, backed by Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh, has been at the helm for the past two years. This year, a consensus was reached at the annual general meeting on September 6 that Baljit would continue as president along with nine executive committee members. However, eight of the nine group members later backtracked, announcing their support for Bansal as their new leader.

The Bansal group, backed by former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, had approached the Deputy Commissioner to facilitate a peaceful possession of the MIA office.

Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said, “It is very shameful that a respected member of the MIA has been assaulted inside the office.

The police were called beforehand apprehending an attack but they colluded with the other side and did not act according to the law.”

The aggressive crowd also stopped the mediapersons from entering the MIA office. An irate member snatched and damaged the mobile phone of a journalist when he was shooting the scuffle. A police complaint has been lodged in this regard.

The Phase-1 police failed to prevent the scuffle. SHO Sukhbir Singh and DSP (City-1) Jayant Yadav also visited the spot later.