Cong candidate’s father alleges ‘manhandling’
Saturday, 11/04/2015
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
Dhuri (Sangrur) : Former Dhuri MLA Gaganjeet Singh Barnala, father of Congress candidate Simar Pratap Singh Barnala, today alleged that he was “manhandled” by SAD activists in Kaheru village, near Dhuri.
He said more than 12 “outsider” SAD activists, including a son of a senior SAD leader, were present in the area. He objected to their presence in the constituency in violation of the orders of the Election Commission. These were the same persons who were seen indulging in corrupt practices at Dolatpur village (near Dhuri).
He said they called the SHO, who told them to move out from Daulatpur.
However, when they reached Kaheru village, they found the same persons present there. An altercation ensued between the two sides and later SAD activists manhandled him, he alleged. After that, villagers gheraoed those SAD activists. Gaganjeet said the outsiders started hurling bricks on them from the rooftop, so their workers (Barnala’s) also hurled some stones at them.
Dhuri DSP Krishan Kumar Panthey said the entire village had gathered at the site of incident when he reached there. However, a timely action by the police averted a clash between the two sides. He said both political parties had levelled allegations against each other as regards presence of outsiders in the area. However, the police had not received any complaint from any side so far, he added.
SAD candidate Gobind Singh Longowal maintained he had no knowledge about the incident, so he could not comment on it at this stage.
