Taking u-turn, Channi demands cancellation of FIR against Sidhu ‘attack’ suspects

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 26

A day after blaming Punjab police for an alleged life-threatening attack on the car of newly-elected PPCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu during his visit to Chamkaur Sahib on July 24, cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday asked the local police to cancel the FIR registered against the suspects in the case.

Though Channi on Tuesday alleged that it was a stage-managed attack on Sidhu at the behest of police, on Monday he said that neither he nor any other Congress worker had lodged any complaint with the police in this regard. Channi’s u-turn on the issue came to the fore apparently when the farmers of the area threatened to oppose him after police registered cases against Kirti Kisan Morcha members.

On Saturday, a large number of farmers had staged a protest when Sidhu accompanied PPCC working president Kuljit Singh Nagra and Channi to Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib at Chamkaur Sahib in a cavalcade with fanfare. While most of them were confined near Chamkaur Sahib bus stand, nearly a dozen others managed to reach the parking gate of the gurdwara and tried to chase the car of the VIPs when they were leaving. Many of the protesters could be seen reaching close to the car showing black flags to Sidhu.

The protesters had said that this kind of celebration with pomp and show by Sidhu for his installation as PPCC chief were unpardonable when farmers were on roads demanding their rights.

Following the incident, Channi had alleged that unscrupulous elements were brought by the police to attack Sidhu. He also said that he had lodged a protest with DGP and Ropar SSP Akhil Chaudhary in this regard.

After this the district police claimed to have registered a case under sections 148,149, 282,323 and 341 of IPC against four members of Kisan Kirti Morcha and 45 other unidentified persons following which farmers of the area got enraged and started a dharna at Solakhian toll plaza.

Channi said that those who attacked Sidhu were not farmers. Now, the police on their own have registered cases. “I have no animosity with anyone, and forgot their attack on us in the gurdwara,” he said adding that he has already written a letter to police to cancel the FIR in this matter.

Chamkaur Sahib DSP SS Virk confirmed that he has received a letter from cabinet minister Channi for the cancellation of FIR and the police have started proceedings in this regard.