Police report on cases against Akali workers 'justifies' arrests

The police on Thursday submitted its report on the nine FIRs filed against Akali workers at four places in the run-up to the Tarn Taran bypoll, the results for which will be declared on Friday.

The confidential sealed cover report, submitted to the Chief Electoral Office (CEO), Punjab, on Thursday evening, will now be submitted to the Election Commission for further action.

Sources told The Tribune that the report, prepared by ADGP Ram Singh, has “justified” the actions taken by former Tarn Taran SSP Ravjot Kaur Grewal.

However, another report, submitted by the election observer for the constituency, Odisha-cadre IPS officer Shyni S, has reportedly implicated the former SSP for her involvement in the arrests of four men. Her three-page “confidential report” submitted to the EC has reportedly also highlighted the “coordinated manner of registration of FIRs in different police districts and how the time taken between the time of registration of FIRs and time of arrests was not sufficient for the police to reach Tarn Taran and nab the men".

On November 8, Ravjot was placed under suspension by the EC on complaints of her alleged partisan behaviour in favour of the ruling AAP, caught in a multi-cornered contest in the bypoll. As many as nine FIRs were registered against Akali workers in Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Moga and Batala, allegedly in a “coordinated manner” and the issue of their workers being targeted was raised by the Akali Dal before the EC. While four were arrested, as many as six were nominated in the FIRs.

Her suspension was preceded by the CEO here seeking a reply from the DIG, Ferozepur range, through the state Police Nodal Officer. The DIG had exonerated former Tarn Taran SSP of any misdoing and maintained that the arrests were part of ongoing investigations. It was then that the EC directed CEO Sibin C to take up the matter again with the DGP.

In a letter to the DGP, the Chief Electoral Officer wrote, “… I am directed by the EC to convey to you to review al alleged wrongful registration of cases and arrests during model code of conduct by a senior officer not below the rank of ADGP and take necessary action as per law within 36 hours.The compliance report in the form of action taken on the above direction may be send to the undersigned for submission to the EC”. The date for submission was subsequently extended till Thursday evening.