KHAIRA ACCUSES POLICE OF FRAMING THEM IN ARMS CASE

CHANDIGARH: Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP) chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday accused the Nawanshahr police of framing a Sikh youth under the Arms Act and provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act despite him being in jail when the crime took place.

Khaira said three Sikh youths — Arvinder Singh, Surjit Singh and Ranjit Singh — were sentenced to life imprisonment for waging a war against the state by a court in Nawanshahr in a sedition case on January 31.

“At the time of arrest, no arms were recovered from them. After their conviction, a fresh case under the Arms Act has been registered against Arvinder of Nawanshahar,” he said in a statement.

He said that according to FIR registered at the Balachaur police station, Arvinder was accused of supplying a pistol and six bullets to one Gurdeep Singh who was arrested under NDPS Act on January 17, 2019, whereas Arvinder was in jail since May 2016.

“Where is the question of his giving weapon to Gurdeep to avenge the sacrilege incidents that took place in January 2017 and June 2018? Police have claimed that Arvinder wanted to avenge the sacrilege incidents of Saroya and Bichhhodi villages,” he said.

The PEP chief alleged the police concocted the story to frame up the Sikh youth in false case to strengthen its previous case of sedition in which Arvinder and two others were convicted.