Patiala, December 16, 2016: Patiala MLA and former central Minister of State Preneet Kaur has condemned the attack on a group of Azad Group students by SAD goons to prevent them from joining the Congress ranks and has asked the state police to stop acting at the behest of the Akalis.
Armed goons attacked the students with swords, rods, empty bottles, stones, etc., in front of the New Motibagh Palace here on Friday, and kidnapped and mercilessly beat up one of the students, who was critically injured and hospitalized. Many other students were also injured in the incident, said Preneet, alleging that the assailants had the backing of the local SHO, who takes instructions from the Halqa Incharge of the SAD and functions more as an Akali activist than a policeman
"I am aware that some of the police officials have been handpicked by the Halqa Incharge to foment trouble and disturb the Congress campaign,” Preneet said, adding, "I have spoken to the DGP Suresh Arora and SSP Patiala Gurmeet Chouhan and told both of them to rein in the local police and ask them to stop them working at the behest of Akalis.”
According to SP City Mr Atwal, police have rounded up three persons and have detained a tempo full of rods, stones and bottles belonging to the attackers, which shows that the attack was pre-planned, said Preneet.
"I demand that those responsible for instigating and supporting these unscrupulous elements should also be identified and taken to task so that an example is set for others not to indulge in such activities,” said Preneet.