Chandigarh: July 2: Congress MLAs S. Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, S. Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, S. Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Sh. Mangat Rai Bansal , S. Makhan Singh, S. Ajaib Singh Bhatti , Sher Singh Gagowal and have strongly condemned the incident of highhandedness and booth capturing in Municipal elections at Sardoolgarh on 30th of June during the polling. They said that it is the height of apathy of administration which has failed to wake up to the occasion despite repeated requests for deployment of adequate security forces apprehending booth capturing and rigging by the Akali musclemen. Describing the incident they said that at about 1.00 p.m. Mr. Gurpreet Singh bananwali and Mr. Bohar Singh of Jhanda Kalan enetered Booth No.9 of Sardoolgarh Nagar Panchayat and captured the booth and damaged the Electronic Voting Machine. Immediately MLA S. Ajit Sinder Singh Mofar rushed to the spot alongwith the candidate and challenged them. Both took out their arms (pistols) and started firing aimed at S. Ajit Inder Singh Mofar. One of the policemen present on the occasion immediately interfered and saved the MLA Mr. Mofar. A large number of publicmen gathered there immediately on hearing this news and cordoned off the whole booth. Both the culprits apprehending public ire locked themselves inside the room and only came out when Police came and gave them full protection. The people were not letting them go.
After about 10 minutes SP(D) Mr. Brar arrived on the spot and requested the MLA Mr. Mofar to let these people go. People had demanded immediate arrest of culprits, registration of case for attacking the MLA and confiscation of their arms as a pre-condition for their release. The SP(D) promised to register the case however it was known later that the FIR has been registered against unknown persons whereas Mr. Mofar had given the complaint in PS Sardoolgarh no.590 giving identity of the culprits.
The MLAs condemn the similar incidents of rigging at Mour Mandi and Ram Pura Phul where police fired on the public gathered to protest against rigging by Ex Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka. Congress MLAs demanded high level enquiry into these incidents by an officer of the rank of ADGP failing which public agitation would be launched to protest against these incidents. They also warned that if any mishappening occurs to the Congress MLA the entire responsibility shall lie on the Chief Minister and the Government.