Objection over damaged saplings proves costly for environmentalist

An environmentalist, Ranjit Singh of Lauhuka village, lost his both legs after he was allegedly beaten by residents of his village. His only fault was that he had raised an objection over damaged saplings planted by him.

Ranjit Singh (33), a marginal farmer, was a truck driver by profession, but the incident left him permanently bedridden. Though the incident took place on August 28, the police registered a case on September 21.

Those named in the FIR are Malkit Singh Ladi, his brothers Kuldeep Singh and Jagdeep Singh Gukhi and sons Jobanpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, all of Lauhuka village.

The police said Ranjit Singh had planted some saplings at Baba Makhni Ram complex in the village. The same were destroyed by goats and other animals owned by the accused, who live near the complex. Ranjit Singh and uncle Balwant Singh went to their house to lodge a protest. The latter, however, attacked them with sharp weapons. Balwant Singh managed to escape, but his nephew was beaten up brutally.

The accused later dumped him on the rail tracks, near the Lahore road in Patti. The victim’s family took him to the local Civil Hospital and later to a private hospital in Amritsar.

Ranjit’s wife Kanwaljit Kaur said they spent lakhs of rupees on his treatment by borrowing money from their relatives, but his legs had to be severed during treatment. The Patti City police have registered a case under Sections 109, 127, 191 (3) and 190 of the BNS.

On the delay in registering the FIR, Paramjit Singh, investigating officer, said the matter was investigated soon after the family approached the police. The victim’s family alleged the matter was reported to the police the same day, but they kept delaying it.