Chandigarh cops, Bittu’s security staff scuffle outside CM Mann’s house
High drama was witnessed as the police personnel and the security staff deployed in the protection of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu scuffled on the road leading to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s official residence here.
The incident took place as the minister was on his way to the CM’s house to lodge a protest against the arrest of his two aides by the Punjab Police.
Bittu had termed the arrests a “political vendetta” and had dared Mann to arrest him if he was “trying to settle political scores with him”.
After the scuffle, the Union minister lodged a complaint with the Chandigarh Police, accusing police personnel of getting involved in a verbal spat and assaulting his staff.
According to police sources, they had received information about Bittu’s visit to the CM House and subsequently stopped his cavalcade from proceeding further. Following this, Bittu’s convoy initially turned back but later approached the rear gate of the CM’s residence. The confrontation escalated when the Chandigarh Police blocked the vehicles from advancing towards the rear entrance.
Videos captured at the scene showed police officers attempting to pull out a security staff member from an escort vehicle, leading to heated arguments between both sides.
In the video, one of Bittu’s security staff can be heard questioning who would be responsible for the minister’s safety if something untoward happens to him as the police prevented their vehicles from accompanying him. The exchange of words continued in Bittu’s presence. Eventually, Bittu addressed the media and left the area.
Bittu later submitted a complaint. The minister said a team led by DSP Uday Pal Singh, consisting of two ASIs and three constables, “verbally and physically abused” him. “This kind of treatment is not only unacceptable but also shameful,” read his complaint.
“After the verbal altercation, I entered my vehicle to leave but the DSP and his team stopped my cavalcade. My security was alerted with this ambiguous action of the Chandigarh Police of trying to breach my Z-plus security. The police team went to the extent of getting into physical altercation with my officials,” he said, demanding action against the officers responsible.
