Re-poll ordered in 2 Gidderbaha villages, but no FIR despite booth-capturing claims

The State Election Commission ordered re-polling at Babania and Madhir villages in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment of Muktsar district amid allegations of booth capturing on Sunday. However, no FIR had been registered in the case so far. The Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have accused AAP leaders of forcibly taking control of some polling booths.

Tension flared up around 11 am at Babania village when a group of men allegedly entered a polling station, damaged CCTV cameras, forced out polling agents of rival parties and cast nearly 200 votes within minutes.

Congress workers staged a protest inside the polling station, accusing AAP MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon’s brother Sandeep Singh alias Sunny Dhillon, his personal assistant Jagtar Singh and others of orchestrating the incident.

PCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that while a re-poll had been ordered, the failure to register an FIR exposed the administration’s inaction. He announced a protest in Gidderbaha and demanded the transfer of the local SDM, alleging that Sunny Dhillon moved in the area with a convoy of 20 vehicles in violation of election norms. “The police were seen escorting Sunny, and our workers have shot videos. If the FIR is not filed, we will move the High Court as well,” said Warring.

SAD leaders led by Gurwinder Singh also protested outside the polling station at Babania. Polling agents of the Congress, SAD and BJP claimed to have submitted a joint written complaint to the Gidderbaha police.

Presiding officer Amit Kataria admitted booth number 63 was captured for a few minutes. “Nearly 10-15 unidentified persons polled around 190-200 votes before leaving, after which polling was stopped and senior officials informed,” he claimed.

Similar allegations surfaced from Madhir village, leading to the re-poll order. Reports of alleged irregularities also emerged from Chak Gilzewala village.

Denying all charges, Sunny Dhillon said he was only touring villages to meet party workers and never entered any polling booth. “It seems the AAP storm has hit once again. You can see the heavy rush at our party’s polling booths in villages,” said Sunny.

Muktsar SSP Abhimanyu Rana told The Tribune no FIR was registered as no formal complaint had been received.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal visited Deon Khera village and said, “The entire police force supported the ruling AAP and AAP used every possible tactic.”

SAD’s former Malout MLA Harpreet Singh alleged that the cameras were damaged and removed while capturing the polling booths at Kingra village and polling staff was manhandled. “We demand re-poll and FIR in this regard,” said Harpreet.

In Bathinda district’s Fatehgarh Nouabad village, SAD’s former Zila Parishad member Gurpartap Singh suffered a leg fracture in an alleged poll-related assault. The police, however, said that they did not receive any complaint.

A rare bonhomie, however, was witnessed at Bhallaiana village in Gidderbaha, where the panchayat samiti candidates of the AAP, Congress and SAD stood together and discussed issues.