Police file DDR against Congress leaders, AAP-LIP call off protest
LUDHIANA: After Ludhiana police assured Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) of registering a case against Congress leaders Kamaljit Singh Karwal and Gurpreet Gopi for allegedly attacking LIP leader and Atam Nagar MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains on Sunday, the two parties called off their protest on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, they had given a 24-hour ultimatum to the district administration. Bains was allegedly attacked at a house in Model Town Extension. Karwal used to be his close aide but contested the assembly elections against him last year.
Despite prohibitory orders, a large number of party leaders and supporters gathered outside a private hotel on Ferozepur Road on Tuesday morning. However, before they could proceed to the police commissioner’s office for protest, cops assured them of action. Earlier, police had claimed that no attack had taken place.
Ludhiana additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Surendra Lamba said proceedings for a non-cognisable offence have been initiated against Karwal, Gopi and 10 unidentified people and a daily diary report (DDR) has been filed under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (mischief causing damage), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In case of a non-cognisable offence, police do not have the authority to make an arrest without a warrant and an investigation cannot be initiated without a court order. A first information report (FIR) can only be filed for cognisable offences, said Lamba.
Calling Karwal a “goonda”, leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira said AAP-LIP will not allow injustice and will stand against every atrocity of the Congress leadership.
“The Congress is trying to pressurise opposition party workers through using government machinery,” he said.
Bains alleged Congressmen had also thrashed AAP workers in Haibowal.reacting to police action, Khaira said he felt cheated as they had assured them of an FIR. The AAP leader said a helpline number will be launched for AAP-LIP supporters who face harassment at the hands of Congress leaders.