Amarinder Singh accused the state government of using the police to intimidate Congress workers. (File)
Accusing local police of conniving with the state government and intimidating Congress workers, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh, with a large number of supporters, marched into a Gurdaspur police station and confronted senior police officials there. He claimed a station house officer (SHO) posted at the police station was acting at the behest of the Shiromani Akali Dal - BJP government.
"Enough is enough," Mr Singh said warning policemen of Kotli Surat Malhi police station of disciplinary action should the Congress form a government in Punjab next year.
"Let me warn police officials that I will use the special powers vested in the government under Article 311 to dismiss all of them in case they don't mend their ways," he said.
According to Mr Singh, the SHO was threatening Congress party workers and asking them to campaign for the Shiromani Akali Dal instead. One of Mr Singh's supporters today claimed that when he had approached a senior police officer with his complaint, he was instead threatened.
Both the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the SHO in question were not present when Mr Singh arrived at the police station.
However, he said, he had spoken with senior police officials over the phone and informed them about his concerns.
"I did it in 2002 (suspend corrupt police officers) and I will do it again should cops fail to mend their ways," Mr Singh added.