Capt promises strict action; 250 booked

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Condemning the attack on BJP MLA Arun Narang, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today warned of strict action against anyone trying to disturb peace in the state by taking the law into their own hands.

Urging farmers not to indulge in acts of violence, the Chief Minister appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently resolve the crisis triggered by the farm laws to prevent the situation from escalating.

Capt Amarinder directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to take strict action, under the law, against the perpetrators who also clashed with the policemen who tried to rescue the MLA. Gurmail Singh, SP (Headquarters), Faridkot, was injured while trying to save the MLA from the mob.

The CM said while holding protests was the democratic right of farmers, violence of any sort would not be tolerated and the law and order situation in the state would not be allowed to be disturbed. Seeking the PM’s intervention to resolve the issue, the CM said any further delay on part of the Centre would trigger further unrest among the agitating farmers.

Meanwhile, Muktsar SSP D Sudarvizhi said no BJP leader had yet given a statement over the incident. “We are registering a case on the statement of SP (H) Gurmail Singh, who suffered injuries in the head, elbows and legs, and is admitted to the Malout Civil Hospital.” The case is being registered against 250-300 persons, including seven by name, at the Malout City police station under Sections 307, 353, 186, 188, 332, 342, 506,148 and 149 of the IPC.

With tensions between the Centre, led by the BJP, and farmers, intensifying, a number of incidents of protests against BJP leaders were reported from different parts of Punjab today.

(With inputs from Muktsar)