‘Feared encounter’: From hiding, AAP MLA Pathanmajra claims Punjab govt sent 500 cops to frame him as gangster
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Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsSanaur MLA Pathanmajra, currently evading police from an undisclosed location, has denied any involvement in attacking or firing at officers during recent police action in Punjab.
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In videos released on Thursday, Pathanmajra said he feared an encounter with the police and fled after being informed that authorities planned to kill him in a staged encounter.
“I never got into any confrontation with the police. I escaped through another exit when they tried to fire at my vehicle. It was only by the grace of the Almighty that I managed to survive,” he said.
In the two videos, the MLA also accused a “Delhi lobby” of orchestrating the crackdown against him. He appealed to fellow MLAs and ministers in Punjab to raise their voices against what he described as attempts by external forces to destabilise the state.
Pathanmajra emphasised that he respects the police but expressed disappointment that they were allegedly acting under directions from Delhi.
He denied any wrongdoing on his part and urged other Punjab leaders to stand united.
Pathanmajra, “I never confronted the police. When they tried to fire at my vehicle, I escaped through another exit by the grace of the Almighty.”
“When the Abdalis couldn’t scare Punjab, how can these Delhi lobby leaders?” he said, invoking historical invaders to rally support.
He urged all Punjab leaders to stand firm and voice their concerns without fear of the government. The MLA is reportedly being chased by police teams from Patiala and the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF).
Pathanmajra also criticised the scale of the police operation against him, saying, “They sent 8 to 10 SPs, over 5 DSPs, and a dozen SHOs with 500 policemen just to portray me as a gangster on the run.”