Political tensions escalated in Dhuri, Sangrur district, on Tuesday during the municipal council elections after Sangrur police detained Onkar Singh, a former officer on special duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. This led to a day-long standoff with senior BJP functionaries, including Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu.
Detention and Allegations
Police detained Onkar Singh early Tuesday morning. Senior police officials said the action was preventive, as he was found actively campaigning for the BJP during the mandatory election silent period. The administration cited directives issued by the Sangrur Deputy Commissioner that prohibited outsiders not registered as voters in the specific polling constituency from remaining in the area on voting day.
BJP's Response
The detention triggered protests from the BJP. Bittu reached the spot and held multiple heated exchanges with police personnel, demanding Singh's release. Bittu accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government of using state machinery to intimidate opposition candidates and alleged high-handedness and harassment of BJP workers contesting the civic polls.
The confrontation escalated later in the evening when Bittu attempted to re-enter Dhuri, and his convoy was intercepted by a heavy police deployment near Benra village, leading to further verbal altercations. Bittu sought Singh's release, citing that polling hours were over and there was no legal basis to hold him further.
Release and Aftermath
After the standoff and political pressure, police released Singh on bail under Section 7/51 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Referring to Dhuri as the Chief Minister's assembly constituency, Bittu said, "Resort to as much high-handedness as you want right now, but you will not get away with it in the 2027 Assembly elections."
AAP's Defense
The ruling party defended the action. Senior AAP leader and Sunam MLA Aman Arora rejected allegations of political vendetta and said the administration acted by the book to maintain law and order during the silent period. He said the party maintained from day one that elections should be entirely fair and added that it was confident of public trust and ready to face voters honestly ahead of the assembly elections.
Deputy Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur confirmed that Onkar Singh was detained to maintain law and order and was released later. She said voting remained peaceful in the district. After Singh's release and the end of polling, Bittu left the region by train later in the evening.
