Congress protests SC/ST Act case against Basowal sarpanch, alleges political vendetta

Congress workers staged a protest outside the Anandpur Sahib police station today, objecting to the registration of a case under the SC/ST Act against Jinder Singh, the elected sarpanch of Basowal village.

The protesters alleged that the case was filed under political pressure and demanded immediate intervention. They raised slogans against the Punjab government while protesting against the police for registration of a case.

Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker KP Rana, while talking to The Tribune referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling that calls for prior verification of allegations before registering a case under the SC/ST Act to prevent misuse.

“In this instance, the police filed the FIR without any verification, which clearly indicates political interference,” Rana claimed. He added that the Congress would fight the case both legally and politically to ensure justice for the sarpanch.

When contacted, Ropar SSP Gulneet Singh Khurana clarified that the case against the sarpanch was registered under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST Act based on a complaint that described a cognizable offence.

“There is no legal requirement that a preliminary inquiry must precede registration of a case under the SC/ST Act,” said the SSP, defending the police action.

The incident has sparked a political row in the region, with Congress leaders vowing to escalate their protest in the coming days.