Farmers Movement Archive

No further arrests, MLA says police under pressure

BATHINDA: Muktsar police are learnt to be heading cautiously to make further arrests in the case of Abohar BJP MLA Arun Narang being thrashed and stripped in Malout on Saturday. Four persons were arrested and 23 were identified in the MLA assault case on Sunday, but no more arrests have been made in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, a daylong protest was staged by farmers on the Malout-Bathinda road on Monday, against the registration of a case under various charges, including attempt to murder, in connection with the incident and against police raids conducted to nab the accused. BJP activists, meanwhile, observed a bandh in Abohar town on Tuesday wherein Narang alleged that police were being pressured by the state government and farm organisations to not make any more arrests. Narang was thrashed and stripped at the BJP office in Malout on Saturday evening, when he had gone there to address a press conference. Muktsar police SP Gurmel Singh too had sustained injuries in the melee. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh had directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to take strict action, under the law, against the perpetrators, who also clashed with police personnel who tried to rescue the MLA. The additional chief secretary (home) had shot off letters to DCs, commissioners and SSPs to ensure security of BJP leaders. While BJP observed a half-day bandh in Malout on Monday, activists of farm organisations disrupted traffic and raised slogans against police. They lifted the protest in the evening, on assurances by an SP-rank officer that no innocent or anyone would be arrested on hearsay. Earlier, the residents of Fakkarsar village asked police not to arrest two persons named in the case or police would have to face the anger of villagers. Farm organisation BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) activists Sukhmandar Singh and Kuldeep Singh said, “BJP is unhappy over what happened with its MLA, but is unmoved while over 300 farmers have died during the protest. The party did not even shed tears for those who died.” They said farm activists Nanak and Avtar Singh from Fakkarsar had been named in the case. Muktsar superintendent of police (investigation) Rajpal Singh said, “No arrests were made after four persons were arrested on Sunday. Police do not want to arrest any innocents, but we will nab anyone who is responsible for the act.”

The Times of India

2021-03-31

Amritsar