Tension in Dhaleta: BSP leaders detained during clash over panchayat land, released after protest

A tense situation prevailed in Dhaleta village on Thursday evening after the administration moved in to clear an alleged illegal construction on panchayat land earmarked for a playground near a local gurdwara. The village was turned into a virtual police camp with the presence of senior officers, several SHOs and heavy personnel deployment.

According to village sarpanch Sukhbir Singh Sukkhi, the panchayat had passed a resolution complaining about an encroachment where boundary walls had been raised on the land. “We have been demanding this action for a long time. The administration has now helped us free three such pieces of land from illegal possession. This particular site will be developed into a ground for the community,” he said, thanking the district administration and the Punjab Government.

The move, however, met stiff resistance from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaders and supporters, who arrived at the spot in large numbers. A heated exchange led to pushing and shoving between BSP workers and the police, following which several party leaders, including Teerath Rajpura, Khushi Ram and Sukhwinder Bittu, were detained and taken away in buses to an undisclosed location.

BSP leaders condemned the action, calling it “an injustice against the Dalit community”. They alleged that while multiple panchayat lands in the village were under encroachment, only Dalit families were being targeted. “On the one hand, the sarpanch passes a resolution to build a Guru Ravidas Community Hall, and on the other, the administration demolishes boundary wall raised on that site. This is a direct betrayal of Dalit interests,” said BSP leader Teerath Rajpura.

Later in the day, detained leaders and workers were released from the Dusanjh Kalan police post following a sit-in dharna. Addressing supporters there, BSP state president Dr Avtar Singh Karimpuri lashed out at the Punjab Government and administration. “This high-handedness will not be tolerated. Our struggle will continue until justice is done,” he declared.

Dr Karimpuri said a party meeting of the Doaba region would be held on August 22 at Nangal village (Phagwara) at 1 pm, from where a major rally in Dhaleta would be announced. He further warned that the party’s agitation would continue until the administration rebuilds the demolished boundary wall.

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SC Commission seeks report

Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi has taken suo moto notice of the alleged encroachment on the land belonging to Guru Ravidass at Dhaleta village in Phillaur. He has sought a report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), Jalandhar. Garhi said the matter came to his notice through a newspaper report, which alleged that the land of Guru Ravidass Centre had been encroached by the civil administration and the police. Taking cognisance of this, the commission initiated a legal action. Directions were issued to present the facts and relevant information regarding this matter before the commission on August 26 through the Deputy Superintendent of Police.