Una MLA’s aides held for roughing up cops

Rajesh Sharma

UNA, AUGUST 13

The Una police have arrested three persons, including Personal Security Officer (PSO) and driver of Una MLA Satpal Raizada of the Congress for allegedly beating up two policemen who intercepted a car loaded with 14 crates of illicit liquor in Pekhubela village late last night. The MLA’s Personal Assistant (PA) absconded from the scene but surrendered at the police station this morning. He has been detained for questioning.

Superintendent of Police Devakar Sharma said in an effort to act against the liquor mafia, special investigating units had been constituted and one such unit, on specific information, had intercepted a car in Pekhubela village around  10 pm on Monday. The two policemen found 14 crates of liquor and began questioning the driver, identified as Arun Kumar, alias Rikki, a resident of Sanoli village in Una.

The SP said within minutes, MLA Satpal Raizada’s personal car, bearing registration number HP 20F 1111, stopped near the two parked vehicles. MLA’s PSO Mohinder Singh, a resident of Santoshgarh, PA Mukesh Kumar, resident of Fatehpur, and driver Vijay Kumar, a resident of Nangran village, came out of the car and began misbehaving with the two policemen.

The SP said Mohinder Singh, who is posted in the India Reserve Battalion at Bangarh and attached with the MLA, was the first to attack the policemen. He was immediately joined by the PA and two drivers. All four beat up two policemen, he said, adding that when the incident was going on, another car carrying four to five persons appeared on the scene in support of the liquor mafia.

The SP said the PSO told the men to destroy the evidence, after which three crates were destroyed by the time police reinforcements reached the spot. He said while the PSO and the two drivers were arrested from the spot, the PA surrendered at the police station in the morning. 

He said a case under Sections 353, 352, 147, 149 and 276, IPC, had been registered against the PSO and two drivers. He said the MLA’s PA is being questioned and would be arrested soon.

Devakar Sharma said he was convinced that the MLA’s aides and the men in the third car had come in support of the liquor mafia and that it can’t be a mere chance that they happened to arrive at the scene almost immediately. He said the cell phone call details of all those involved is being verified.

Meanwhile, Tuesday morning, the district BJP staged a protest at the district headquarters against the Congress MLA. Led by district president Balbir Bagga and HPSIDC vice chairman Ram Kumar, the activists marched from the municipal park to the mini secretariat, raising slogans against Raizada and the Congress. They submitted a memorandum to the Vidhan Sabha Speaker through the DC, demanding the termination of the MLA’s membership from the Assembly for his involvement in illegal activities and for shielding the liquor mafia.

Reacting to the allegations, Satpal Raizada told media persons that his car was on way to drop the PSO to his house when they spotted two vehicles on the road side in the night and as responsible citizens, they just got down to inquire. He said they were framed in the incident.

BJP trying to tarnish my image: Raizada

The party in power is trying to tarnish my image. I have given a written complaint to the police against four persons for making derogatory posts against me on the social media. If asked, I will cooperate with the police in the investigation and if my involvement with the mafia is proved, I will resign from politics forever and face the law — Satpal Raizada, UNA MLA

Police acted under pressure: Cong

Leader of the Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri has alleged that the police were acting under political pressure to tarnish the image of the Congress MLA. Satpal Raizada has nothing to do with the liquor mafia. The police should act impartially. He said the Congress stoond strongly behind Raizada on the issue.