Gangster-turned-activist held for smudging signboards in Bathinda

A case under Prevention of Damage to Public and Property Act was registered against Sidhana, who is president of the Malwa Youth Federation, and senior vice-president of Dal Khalsa Hardeep Singh and 50 unidentified persons.

The district police on Tuesday arrested gangster-turned-activist Lakhbir Singh Lakha Sidhana for allegedly smudging of Hindi and English signboards on the Bathinda-Faridkot road.

The cases were registered after activists of the federation, Dal Khalsa, SAD (Amritsar) and BKU (Krantikari) smudged signboards on the 20km stretch of the NH-15 on the Bathinda-Faridkot road on October 21, demanding to write names of places on signboards with Punjabi on top. (Representative image)

Senior superintendent of police Navin Singla said a case under Prevention of Damage to Public and Property Act was registered against Sidhana, who is president of the Malwa Youth Federation, and senior vice-president of Dal Khalsa Hardeep Singh and 50 unidentified persons.

The cases were registered after activists of the federation, Dal Khalsa, SAD (Amritsar) and BKU (Krantikari) smudged signboards on the 20km stretch of the NH-15 on the Bathinda-Faridkot road on October 21, demanding to write names of places on signboards with Punjabi on top.

Following protests, the public works department (buildings and roads) decided put Punjabi on the top.