Pastor Bajinder’s supporters protest outside Mohali SSP office

Supporters of Pastor Bajinder Singh today staged a protest outside the office of the Mohali SSP against the assault of a woman case registered against him at the Mullanpur police station yesterday. Hundreds of supporters reached the SSP office in buses today evening and blocked gate near the complex. Heavy police force from many police stations of the district was called to maintain law and order situation.

The gathered crowd was protesting against the hasty manner in which an FIR was registered against the 40-year-old pastor without taking into account his side of the story. Protesters said that already a complaint was given against the complainant, but the police did not act on it.

A team led by Mohali SP (Rural) Manpreet Singh and DSP City-2 Harsimran Singh Bal negotiated with protesters. They informed protesters that an SIT would be formed to probe the case.

The Mohali police on Tuesday booked Pastor Bajinder Singh for assaulting a woman, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation at his Baroudi village church in New Chandigarh on February 14.

The 40-year-old victim, a resident of Kharar, had filed a complaint with the Mohali SSP office after which the police started verifying the purported video in which Bajinder was seen slapping and pushing woman. Bajinder’s supporters had claimed that the purported video on the basis of which an FIR was registered was AI-generated.

Talking to mediapersons, Surjit Singh Thapar, who led protesters, said, “The matter should be thoroughly investigated. Many complaints given by us are pending. The police have said that they will take action within 24 hours. If our demands are not met, the entire Masih brotherhood will come on roads after two days.”

SP (Rural) Manpreet Singh said, “All their complaints will be taken up during further action.”