12 MLAS among 1,500 Akalis booked for blocking roads

CHANDIGARH: Police on Saturday booked more than 1,500 Akali leaders, including 12 sitting MLAS, three MPS and 15 ex-ministers, for putting up blockades across the state over alleged attacks on party workers.

The move comes a day after police registered an FIR against SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia who spent Thursday night on Harike Bridge demanding that the Congress government must withdraw the “false” cases registered against party leaders.

The sit-in and several other blockades by party leaders on key state and national highways had left thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles stranded.

Police said Akali leaders have been booked under sections 145 (joining or continuing in unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way) and 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge) of the IPC and section 8B of National Highways Act-1956. As per a senior police official, the decision to register FIR was taken to give a stern message to SAD leaders.

“Right to demonstrate has its means and ways. You can’t block national highway for a single political tussle of a town,” said a Dgp-rank officer.

On Friday, while hearing a petition against blockades, the Punjab and Haryana high court had asked the Congress government to ensure that no dharna or protest is held in the state without permission of DCS till the civic body polls.

The MLAS who have been booked are Pawan Tinu, Ajit Singh Kohar, Baldev Khaira, Gurpartap Wadala, NK Sharma, Rozy Barkkandi, Sharanjit Dhillon, Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi, Dilraj Singh Bhunder and Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra and Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal.

MPS Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Balwinder Bhunder and former ministers Bibi Jagir Kaur, Tota Singh, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bibi Upinder Kaur, Sohan Singh Thandal, Gulzar Singh Ranike have also been booked.

The names of at least 20 former SAD MLAS and 15 district presidents also figured in the FIRS. The SAD termed registration of FIRS as political vendetta.

“Nowhere in the state a ruckus was created by our party workers. It was a peaceful demonstration and we have every right to hold such dharnas when this government is bent upon to kill the democracy by attacking our party workers,” said party MP from Anandpur Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra.

“We are not scared. First the government accepted our demand and thereafter FIRS were lodged against our leaders. We were ready to get arrested during the protest,” said SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema.

SUKHBIR, MAJITHIA, TINU, KOHAR, RANIKE, CHANDUMAJRA AMONG THOSE AGAINST WHOM FIRS HAVE BEEN LODGED