E-Paper
Jalandhar LS byelection: Shahkot Congress MLA booked for non-bailable offences
Jalandhar Rural police register case against Hardev Singh Laadi Sherowalia and dozen Congress workers at Shahkot police station for rioting, obstructing public servants from discharging their duty
A day after Shahkot Congress MLA Hardev Singh Laadi Sherowalia accused Baba Bakala MLA Dalbir Singh Tong of intimidating voters during the Jalandhar Lok Sabha byelection on May 10, he (Sherowalia) was booked for non-bailable offences at Shahkot police station.
Jalandhar Rural police registered the case against Sherowalia and a dozen other Congress workers for rioting and obstructing public servants from discharging their duty as they intercepted Tong’s vehicle at Shahkot Rupewal village during polling on Wednesday.
The case was registered under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function) and 148 (rioting) of the Indian Penal Code.
In the FIR registered on the complaint of Gagandeep Singh Tong, the driver of AAP MLA Dalbir Singh Tong, it has been stated that they were travelling to Sultanpur Lodhi from Baba Bakala via Jalandhar’s Nakodar when they took to a link road after finding a traffic jam near Malsian Chowk in Shahkot assembly segment.
“Congress MLA Sherowalia intercepted the AAP MLA’s carcade near Rupewal village by parking a tractor-trolley before his car and pulling out keys of their vehicles,” the FIR said. It added that the accused MLA restricted police officials from performing their duty.
Though senior officials remained unavailable, Sherowalia said FIR number 74 was registered against him at Shahkot.
On Wednesday, AAP MLA Tong was arrested and released on bail after he was caught by Sherowalia roaming in his constituency against the Election Commission’s directive.
Being an outsider, he couldn’t be present in the constituency. He was seen roaming around polling booth number 92 at Rupewal village in Shahkot assembly segment along with AAP workers.
Sherowalia said being the MLA of Shahkot, it was his responsibility to keep a check on any intimidation by the AAP MLA and workers. “I have come to know that the FIR has been registered but I have done nothing wrong as I have only exposed the AAP MLA and his workers’ illegal presence on polling day. I am not scared of any FIR,” Sherowalia said.
Punjab assembly leader of opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said it is a case of political vendetta as the police were acting under government pressure.
Jalandhar range DIG Swapan Sharma and SSP Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar were not available for comment.
Total six FIRs registered
Deputy commissioner Jaspreet Singh said six FIRs have been registered by the Jalandhar commissionerate and rural police at six police stations for violation of the poll code. He said FIR number 72 against the Baba Bakala MLA and other unknown persons under Section 188, followed by FIR number 73 under the same sections against unknown persons.
Another FIR was registered at Goraya police station against three accused under Section 188, while an FIR was registered at Maqsudan police station against one accused. Similarly, an FIR was registered in Phillaur against an accused under Sections 332, 353, 186 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
FIR number 40 was registered at police station number 5 of the commissionerate police against accused Gurjeet Singh of Dhanola Road, Barnala , under Sections 171-C, 171-F of the IPC and 130 of the Representation of People Act , 1951 and 1988, besides arresting the accused.
