Attack on Arun Narang: Call for Malout bandh today

Malout (Muktsar), March 28

A day after BJP MLA from Abohar Arun Narang was assaulted on the Fazilka-Delhi national highway in Malout town, saffron party leaders today gave a call for bandh on Monday.

BJP activists first held a meeting and thereafter blocked a road in Malout and burnt the effigy of CM Capt Amarinder Singh. They later appealed to the traders to keep their business establishments shut on Holi till 2 pm to protest the failure of the state government and deteriorating law and order.

BKU (Sidhupur) state president Jagjit Singh Dallewal today visited the Civil Hospital, Malout, to inquire about the well-being of Muktsar SP Gurmail Singh, who had some injuries in the melee yesterday.

“I condemn yesterday’s violence. The ‘kisan andolan’ has become a ‘jan andolan’ and BJP leaders should refrain from giving any aggressive statement. I also appeal to the farmers to lodge protest in a peaceful manner. It is my duty to know about the well being of the police officer. The truth will come out in the investigation,” he said.

Some farmer leaders claimed they had announced on March 26 that they would not allow any political outfit to hold any political rally in the district until the three farm laws were revoked.

Meanwhile, the police late last night, on the statement of the injured SP, registered a case against three farmer leaders, namely ex-serviceman Avtar Singh of Fakkarsar village, Nirmal Singh of Jasseana village, Lakhanpal Sharma of Alamwala village and 300 other unidentified persons on various charges, including the attempt to murder. In the FIR, the SP claimed Fakkarsar and two-three persons tore the clothes of the MLA and threw black oil on him and policemen. Protesters even vandalised the BJP office. — TNS

Four accused held

• Muktsar SSP D Sudarvizhi said: “We have identified 23 more accused with the help of video footage. Four accused have been arrested. Raids are under way to arrest the other accused.”
• Malout DSP Jaspal Singh said an SHO had gone to Abohar to record the statement of MLA Arun Narang.