Sarpanch’s husband detained for assault

BATHINDA: The dispute over the August 2016 change in name of Kotli Khurd village to Prem Kotli was stirred again on Wednesday, after police detained the husband of the sarpanch for allegedly manhandling a village resident, who supports the name change back to Kotli Khurd.

The name had been changed to Prem Kotli as the village had a considerable population of Dera Sacha Sauda followers. Since then, a section of villagers had been campaigning for the name to be changed back. This campaign had gained momentum after sentencing of Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. for raping two of his disciples in August 2017.

On Wednesday, village residents who had even met deputy commissioner Diprava Lakra last week to seek a meeting of the general house of the panchayat on the issue, protested outside the Maur police station. This was after Sadhu Singh, husband of sarpanch Bachint Kaur, allegedly assaulted a member of their group. Sadhu was detained, but was later bailed out. The villagers in favour of renaming their village as Kotli Khurd claim that the panchayat did not follow proper procedure to change the name.

“The resolution to change the name was not passed in a panchayat general House. Panchayat got signatures of residents by visiting houses,” they claim. A general House was called on February 23, but couldn’t take place as the sarpanch did not turn up. The sarpanch, had written to the administration claiming calling a general House might lead to a law and order problem.