PPP leader booked under Arms Act, party cries foul
Saturday, 04/05/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130504/punjab.htm#10
Bathinda : Ahead of the Panchayat and Block Samiti elections, the Bhagta Bhai ke police (Bathinda district) today arrested a leader of the Manpreet Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) for allegedly carrying a weapon illegally in Hamirgarh village. The accused, Lakhbir Singh Lakha, who contested the Assembly elections last year on the PPP ticket, was booked today under relevant sections of the Arms Act for carrying a .315 bore gun. He was traveling in an Innova car. Two persons travelling with him were also arrested.
Though the police denied any political link to the arrest, PPP district president Sukhdev Singh Chahal claimed the weapon was licensed. “It was in the name of his mother Karamjti Kaur who was traveling with him while he was arrested,” he said.
He alleged the police was working under pressure as Lakhbir was quite popular in the area and could have dented the SAD candidate’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections. Chahal alleged the Akalis had resorted to vendetta after they failed to rope in Lakhbir into their party. He claimed the police went ahead with the registration of a case even though documents proving his mother had an arms licence were shown to them.
