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Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, April 20
The trouble, it appears, is far from over for Independent MLA brothers from Ludhiana, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains, who were arrested three days ago for launching a protest against the alleged patronage to the sand mafia by the state government.
It has come to light that the police have demanded an undertaking by three gazetted officers for accepting the bail of Balwinder, who was booked under Section 107/151 of the CrPC on April 17. Sources in the police said in the first case registered on April 11 against the MLA brothers, the surety bond of Rs1 lakh submitted in lieu of the release of Balwinder would be forfeited. The department has sent a notice to the guarantor for forfeiting the bail bond.
Balwinder and Simarjeet were released on personal surety bond when the duo along with their supporters created a human chain near Jagraon bridge and staged protest against the sand mafia on April 11.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Naveen Singla said the notice had been sent and the case would be heard on April 24. Balwinder is currently under preventive custody for launching the anti-government protest on April 17 while Simarjeet was slapped with multiple charges, including attempt to murder, for lifting sand from the riverbed. Rattled at the new conditions, Jagmohan Singh Waraich, Balwinder’s lawyer, has decided to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the orders issued by the court of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
“They have made mockery of the Constitution. If this is happening to an elected member of the Assembly, one can imagine the plight of the common man. The court of the DCP has told us that the bail would only be granted if three gazetted officers or three government doctors would submit an undertaking (surety). This is totally unconstitutional.
“Which government employee would lock horns with the government by filling a surety bond for Balwinder Singh Bains. Further, the court of DCP has also told us to submit a surety bond of Rs1 lakh. First the police misused its powers and slapped one case after another on Bains brothers and now the police are using all tactics to keep them in jail,” claimed Waraich.
Simarjeet, 28 others seek bail
Simarjeet and 28 others have moved bail applications before the Sessions Judge. Councillor Parminder Singh Soma, Ranjit Singh Ubhi, Gurpreet Singh alias Gora, Daljit Singh Bhola were also among the bail-seekers.
They have been facing accusation of attempt to murder, theft, obstructing public servants from performing their duty. A case was registered against Simarjeet under Sections 307, 379, 353, 186, 120-B of the IPC. He was also booked under the Sand Mining Act.
While Simarjit was arrested from Chuharwal, located on the banks of the Sutlej, his elder brother Balwinder was taken into custody from outside a hotel in Ludhiana.
The Bains brothers had announced the 'Satyagraha' by their 'Team Insaaf' from April 20, but they started it three days in advance.
The District Bar Association has passed a resolution signed by its Secretary condemning the local police for blocking all entry points in the district courts complex when the accused were produced late evening in the court. It has been alleged that even lawyers who were desirous of appearing for Bains in the court were stopped.
‘Sand Satyagraha’ reaches Jalandhar
Supporters of Bains brothers, Independent MLAs from Ludhiana, on Monday kick-started their 'Satyagraha Andolan' in Jalandhar, holding a demonstration at the local Guru Nanak Mission Chowk for about an hour
The protests are to be held across the state to oppose the sand mafia operating allegedly under the patronage of the Punjab government
The protests on Monday marked the opening of the proposed two-year-long series of agitations during which the supporters of the MLAs would hold demonstrations in 14 districts to spread awareness against illegal mining
About 50 to 60 protesters raised slogans against the state government, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister
They also distributed pamphlets announcing the 'Satyagraha Andolan' by the ‘Team Insaaf’. Protests were also held in Phagwara and Phillaur
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