Police book 5 for assault on AAP candidate’s husband

In a political drama, the police registered a case under Section 323, 341, 427, 148 and 149 of IPC against five youths on the charges of attacking and injuring a resident of Basant Nagar, Vijay Kumar, husband of AAP candidate Reeta Rani (Ward 43). He was admitted to the local Civil Hospital late on Friday evening for treatment.

The injured Vijay Kumar told the police that he was going to campaign for the elections with his brother Sunil on his bike bearing the registration number Punjab-36L-22431 when five youths, identified as Pritam, Jatinder, Kuldip, Kulwinder and Paramjit (Congress supporters), attacked him with iron rods and even damaged his bike.

Meanwhile, one of the five youths, Pritam Singh was also admitted to the local Civil Hospital, alleging attack upon him but the police did not act on his complaint.

The drama began when AAP supporters alleged liquor distribution by Congress workers while Congress workers alleged storage of liquor boxes in the house of AAP candidate Reeta Rani and in the house adjoining hers.

Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal alleged that the cops were openly favouring AAP. They wanted the police to search the house of AAP candidate to expose liquor storage, but the cops did not act.

Several Congress workers sat on dharna to demand a search of the AAP candidate’s house. DSP, Phagwara, Bharat Bhushan rushed to the spot to pacify the protesters, but MLA Dhaliwal alleged that SHO, Satnampura, Hardip Singh Maan ignored their demand.

Dhaliwal, in a written complaint sent to the DC, SSP and Election Commission, demanded the immediate transfer of SHO Maan.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders including MP Hoshiarpur Raj Kumar Chabbewal, Harji Mann (State spokesperson of AAP) and Joginder Singh Mann, Halqa in-charge, reached the Civil Hospital to take stock of the situation and urged the police to book those involved in attacking and injuring Vijay Kumar, husband of AAP candidate Suneeta Rani. Phagwara MLA Dhaliwal also alleged that SHO Maan misbehaved with a Congress worker Vinod alias Kaif and his women family members.

Police officials said they are investigating the matter.