Fatehgarh Churian civic body chief booked for molestation, absconding

CONGRESS IS TRYING TO CREATE TERROR AMONG AKALI WORKERS AHEAD OF 2019 ELECTIONS, SAYS AKALI LEADER RAVI INDER SINGH KAHLON

Churian police on Friday booked president of the municipal council Baljeet Singh on charges of molesting a woman.

In her complaint, the victim woman, a resident of Khalsa colony, alleged that when she was alone at her home on in the afternoon on March 10, Baljeet Singh, who is here neighbour, barged into her house and tried to molest her. When she cried for help, he fled from the spot, she alleged.

Later, she along with her family members met DSP, Fatehgarh Churian, Ravinder Kumar Sharma and lodged a complaint with him. After a probe, police registered a case under sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 354 (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Baljeet Singh, who is at large. SHO Fatehgarh Churian, Harjeet Singh said they had conducted many raids on the possible hideouts of the accused, but in vain. “However, he will soon be behind the bars,” he added.

Baljeet Singh, close to Akali leader Ravi Karam Kahlon, had, a few days ago, accused the state government of neglecting development in the wards represented by Akali councillors.

Terming the case as a prefect example of political vendetta, senior Akali leader and former tube corporation chairman Ravi Inder Singh Kahlon accused the police of acting at the behest of Congress leaders.

“Congress leaders are using ‘cheap’ tactics to create terror among Akalis ahead of 2019 general elections, if they continue to do the same, we will start a chain hunger protest against the police,” he said.

Batala SSP Opinderjeet Singh Ghumman refuted the allegations levelled by the Akali leader and said the case was registered against Baljeet Singh after a thorough probe into the complaint.