Jarnail Singh lodges counter-complaint with SSP against Maluka, assaulters

Tuesday, 24/11/2015

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

FARIDKOT: Jarnail Singh, 65, a resident of Hamirgarh village in Bathinda, who was beaten up by supporters of rural development and panchayat minister Sikander Singh Maluka on Friday evening, after he tried to assault the minister at a function, has filed a complaint with the police against Maluka and others.

Jarnail Singh at GGS hospital in Faridkot on Monday.

Jarnail Singh, who is still admitted to GGS medical college and hospital in Faridkot has sent his complaint to senior superintendent of police (SSP), Bathinda, through Narinder Kumar Jeet, his advocate from Bathinda.

The police had registered a case against Jarnail Singh on the complaint of Kuldeep Chand, personal assistant of the minister on Friday under sections 353(assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186(Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 120-B (Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, or imprisonment for life) against Jarnail Singh at Dyalpura police station, but a case against the assaulters of the elderly man is yet to be registered by the police .

Jarnail Singh, in his complaint to the police, has alleged that a group of supporters of the minister assaulted him brutally at the behest of the minister as he stood up to speak to the minister to tell him that is government should take care of the problems of the public.

“The minister’s supported others, some of whom I identify, assaulted when I stood up to speak to the minister,” alleged Jarnail Singh.

When he was rushed to the hospital on Friday night, he was critical, but his condition is improving now and he is also able to speak a bit. CASE AGAINST JARNAIL

Kuldeep Chand had alleged that the man swiftly rushed towards the minister and, as we tried to stop him, he manhandled us and the supportive staff of the minister.

“We reached Hamirgarh village about 4:30 pm for a meeting on development works. A man with blue turban rushed swiftly to the minister to assault him and when we tried to stop him, he pushed away and manhandled us. Seeing his behaviour, some present in the meeting beat him up. The man, who was identified as Jarnail Singh tired to assault the minister at the behest of someone else,” Kuldeep Chand has stated to the police. But, Jarnail Singh said that there was no politics behind the incident.

“My father is a religious man and he was baptised about 20 years ago. Most of the time, he recites Gurbani in the village gurdwara. He is also a member of the village gurdwara committee. He has no affiliation with any political party,” said Sukhmander Singh, his son, who was attending upon him at the hospital.

"No policeman has ever visited the hospital to record his statement, Sukhmander Singh

“I have sent the complaint to the senior superintendent of police of Bathinda through registered post,” said Narinder Kumar Jeet.

Swapan Sharma, senior superintendent of police, Bathinda, was not available for comments as his official phone continued to be switched off.