Karnal villagers protest ‘detention’ by Punjab cops

Residents of Dabri village and nearby areas gathered at Sadar police station on late Wednesday evening and met SP Ganga Ram Punia, protesting the alleged detention of nearly 14 people by the Punjab Police in connection with the escape of the AAP MLA from Sanaur, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, from the residence of an HSGMC member, Gurnam Singh Laddi. The MLA is booked in a rape case.

The villagers alleged that Punjab Police personnel, in civil dress, forcibly entered houses and picked up residents, including relatives of people who had gone to Laddi’s residence to enquire about the incident that occurred on Tuesday morning.

They claimed that the detained persons had no connection with the MLA’s escape and had been wrongly targeted. The villagers alleged that the police resorted to manhandling and even misbehaved with women during the operation.

“Around 14-15 people have been taken away without any justification. They have nothing to do with the MLA’s case, yet our people are being harassed,” said Amarjeet Singh, a resident of the village.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, the Sadar police registered a case against the MLA, Laddi, and some others after locals allegedly resisted their move to arrest the AAP legislator. “We only want our people back. This is unfair and unacceptable,” the villagers asserted, calling for intervention by the local authorities.