The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday expelled senior vice-president Baljeet Singh Billa and vice-president Baljinder Singh Dhillon from its Amritsar-urban district wing for having recommended the name of Ranjit Singh Rana, who allegedly killed a policeman here last week, for induction into
the party.
Rana, a since-expelled general secretary of the district unit, is in police custody for allegedly having gunned down an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) after the latter reportedly came to the aid of his daughter who was being teased by Rana and his aides.
Tuesday's action, announced by SAD district unit president Upkaar Singh Sandhu, came a day after deputy chief minister and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal vowed action against leaders "who facilitated Rana's entry into the party".
With the expulsions, the party sought to offset criticism. "Inclusions into the party after recommendations from various members. If someone commits a crime, we cannot blame the entire party," Sandhu told reporters,
"We have also asked the party members to be cautious while recommending names; and we will also scan the character of the existing members," he added.