Govt to give report to EC today on 9 FIRs against SAD workers

The Punjab Government will submit its report regarding the nine FIRs registered against Shiromani Akali Dal workers tomorrow. The

cases were registered when the model code of conduct for the Tarn Taran bypoll was in force.

Initially, the report had to be submitted by Wednesday evening. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has now allowed the Director General of Police, Punjab, to submit it by Thursday.

The ECI had directed the police to inquire into all FIRs registered during the period of model code of conduct, not only in Tarn Taran, but also in Moga, Amritsar and Batala. The SAD had alleged that the FIRs were registered to intimidate its workers.

While Tarn Taran SSP Ravjot Kaur was placed under suspension on November 8 after the SAD complained to the ECI about her alleged “partisan behaviour” in favour of the ruling AAP, a report by the Ferozepur Range DIG had then termed the allegation as “baseless”, saying the workers were booked in cases related to ongoing investigations.

The ECI, however, took a stern view of the coordinated registration of FIRs against the workers. The ECI’s own election observer had reportedly submitted a report, highlighting his concerns following which the ECI decided to hand over the inquiry to an officer of the rank of ADGP and review all those cases and arrests.

The ECI will now decide the fate of the suspended SSP. Her reinstatement will depend on the report that will be submitted by the state government.

Meanwhile, officials in the Chief Electoral Office here said though no untoward incident was reported on the day of polling yesterday, where 60.95% votes were polled, an FIR was registered against Kanchanpreet Kaur, daughter of SAD candidate Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa. Another person was detained by the police on suspicion of distributing money, but was later released.