Ludhiana:
The Punjab Police has arrested all three men accused of assaulting a senior police officer at a nightclub in Ludhiana on Monday. Assistant Inspector General (AIG) SS Mand was assaulted and was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries in his leg. He was at the nightclub to attend a Christmas-eve party with three of his friends and their families.
The three men accused of the assault were initially reported to be leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) youth front. However, Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister and SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal earlier today rejected allegations that the three men were leaders from his party. He clarified that those accused of the alleged assault were expelled six months ago and are hence were not associated with SAD anymore.
"You blame Akalis for anything. The accused was expelled six months ago," he said when asked about the allegations.
Even Akali Dal spokesman Daljeet Singh Cheema clarified that Maninder Pal Singh, alias Sunny Goodwill Johar, accused of attacking the police officer in Ludhiana and his NRI friend was not an office bearer or member of the Youth Akali Dal.
Mr Cheema said that the Youth Akali Dal had expelled Mr Johar, who was a Senior Vice-President, Rishi Banda, Vice President (both from Ludhiana) and Jaskirat Singh, Vice-President from Amritsar for "anti-party activities" on May 29.
Youth Akali Dal disciplinary committee chairman Param Bans Singh Romana said that all the three had been expelled for anti-party activities during the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation polls.
Leaders of the opposition Congress had claimed that the assaulters were Akali Dal leaders who are close associates of Punjab's Revenue Minister and Youth Akali Dal president Bikram Singh Majithia, a brother-in-law of Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The Akali Dal even termed the attack on Mr Mand "as a deep rooted conspiracy of the Congress party in the state whose aim is only to tarnish the image of Punjab".
Akali Dal treasurer NK Sharma said that the Congress tactics were "to distract the attention of the public from total breakdown of law and order situation in the national capital New Delhi where Congress Chief Minister (Sheila Dikshit) and union Home Minister (Sushil Kumar Shinde) were blaming each other (in the Delhi rape case incident)".
Mr Sharma said that the incident at Ludhiana had been carried out by the expelled leaders of the (SAD) party "who have been paid by the Congress to do so".
Punjab Congress president and former chief minister Amarinder Singh warned the Akali Dal leadership from demoralising the police force with such actions. He urged Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to rein-in Majithia so that Punjab was not led into anarchy.
Senior police officer H.S. Dhillon said a case of attempt to murder and under the arms act has been registered against Sunny Johar and others after the attack on Mr Mand.
(
With inputs from IANS)