CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police on Monday conducted a raid at the residence of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia in connection with the Majitha police station attack case. The case involves an alleged attempt to free a detainee from police custody.
Details of the Incident
According to police sources, Bikram Majithia was part of an unlawful gathering that allegedly attempted to free a detainee named Jobanpreet from the Majitha police station. The mob reportedly entered the police station and threatened police personnel. However, Jobanpreet was taken back into police custody. Police have registered a case and named six accused, including Majithia.
Police Press Conference
Addressing a press conference, SSP Rural Sohail Mir provided details of the incident. He said, "In case number 90, registered at Majitha police station on May 30, we apprehended an accused named Jobanpreet and formally arrested him. While he was being interrogated, around 11:30 am, a mob gathered in front of the police station to free him. They entered the police station forcefully, illegally, and as part of a pre-planned conspiracy, and threatened the police."
SSP Mir further added, "They searched various rooms of the police station and then entered the interrogation room. They threatened him with weapons, damaged some case files, and forcibly removed him from police custody. The SHO and DSP arrived at the scene and tried to reason with them. They still tried to pull him away, but the police managed to take him back into custody and placed him back in the lockup."
The SSP stated that police teams are conducting raids at several locations to identify others involved in the alleged unlawful assembly. "Taking cognisance of this incident, a case has already been registered, and we are conducting raids in various locations. The culprits will be arrested soon. We have just named six accused, but we are identifying more people. Bikram Singh Majithia (SAD leader) was also a part of the unlawful assembly," SSP Mir said.
Political Reactions
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP government over the case against Majithia, calling it “political vendetta” against SAD. Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, "The one who injured the head of one of our leaders was extracted from the police station by Majitha's in-charge, but there was no action against him. But the one, kept in illegal confinement at the SHO's house without any FIR and was about to be encountered at night, was rescued, and an FIR was registered against Majithia."
She added, "Entire Punjab is watching the frustration of the CM - why is he afraid of Bikram Majithia, why is the police being misused. What wrong did Bikram do? Look at how their vote share decreased in the Lok Sabha; half of Punjab voted against them (AAP), and this is just a way to express their frustration. What do they do apart from vendetta? The law and order are in the same state as the CM is."
The case has sparked a political controversy, with SAD alleging that the ruling AAP government is misusing state machinery to target opposition leaders. Further investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
