No headway in Lambi election violence case against Sukhbir

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, February 10

Nearly five months have passed since the Lambi police lodged a poll violence case against the SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, but no action has been taken yet. Lambi is the home turf of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

When the case was registered against Sukhbir Badal and a large number of unidentified persons on September 19 last year, Manjit Singh Dhesi, SSP, Muktsar, had said it was based on electronic evidence (CCTV footage) related to the incident and a complaint was lodged by someone.

After this, Sukhbir had many times publicly warned the SSP of action once the Akalis return to power, alleging that the district police chief was working under pressure of the Congress leaders.

Notably, on the day of Zila Parishad elections, Jatinderpal Singh of Chak Middu Singhwala village, who is a brother of Congress candidate from Killianwali zone, had lodged a complaint against Sukhbir and others, alleging that an Innova car was damaged and some people were thrashed near the polling station atMandi Killianwali.

Thereafter, late in the evening, a case was registered under Sections 323, 341, 506, 148, 149 and 427 of the IPC at the Lambi police station. The CCTV footage of the incident had gone viral on social media. In the video, Sukhbir was seen as a spectator of the violence.

Talking to The Tribune on Saturday, Manjit Singh Dhesi, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muktsar, said, “The investigation is underway. We will take the case to the logical end, completing all formalities. The offences are bailable, but the accused has not got any kind of bail as yet.”

Later, on October 8, the police had booked SAD leader Tejinder Singh Middukhera, who won the Zila Parishad election from Killianwali zone, for allegedly creating obstruction in the duty of an Assistant-Sub Inspector (ASI), snatching his cell phone and entering the polling booth along with many others on September 19 against the law. However, nothing has happened in this case as well.