Bains brothers face police action

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 21

Independent MLA from Ludhiana Simarjit Singh Bains along with his supporters was arrested outside the residence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal where he had planned to hold a dharna.

Bains was injured in police action which used water canons at the protesters, besides resorting to mild lathicharge. The Punjab and Chandigarh police had erected nakas on different routes from Ludhiana to Chandigarh to prevent Bains and his supporters from reaching the CM residence.

While MLA Balwinder Bains, Simarjit’s elder brother was arrested in Ludhiana, the latter managed to reach the CM’s residence.

He said he wanted to gherao the CM’s residence to protest the recent sacrilege incidents. “Instead of blocking roads and rail tracks, it is better to protest outside the house of leaders responsible for the mess. We are against harassing the common public,” he alleged.

Ludhiana: The city police arrested MLA Balwinder Bains and 23 of his supporters this morning.

The Bains brothers had told their supporters to assemble at the Chandigarh road for the march towards Chandigarh. When Balwinder reached the meeting spot at 10 am, the police nabbed him. Simarjit Singh Bains, on observing the situation from a distance, told his driver to accelerate. The police tried to stop the SUV but he escaped. Police teams followed him till Kohara and barricaded the road.

Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Commissioner of Police, said, “While escaping from the police, Simarjit Singh Bains injured one officer with his vehicle. So we will book him under the relevant sections.”