BJP Mahila Morcha chief meets CP over attack on advocate, aides

Advocate Simranjit Kaur of Punjab and Haryana High Court and her aides were attacked by a mining contractor’s men while conducting a seminar on the rules and regulations of sand mining at Sasrali colony near Gaunsgarh village near here last evening.

After no action was taken by the officials of the police station concerned, Punjab’s BJP Mahila Morcha President Jai Inder Kaur, along with the victims and a few BJP leaders, met Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma this morning to lodge an official complaint. Before meeting the CP, Jai Inder met Punjab Governor to seek action against the assailants.

She said the delegation that met the Governor was joined by the elected members of the panchayats of Gaunsgarh, Gadhapur, Khwajke, Mangat, Boothgarh, Rawat, Hawas, and Mangli villages. The villagers narrated the continuing atrocities being committed by the sand mafia under the protection of the local administration and the state government upon them.

“We have been told by the CP that an FIR has been registered against the assailants. He assured us that if any other person’s role is found in the attack then they will add their names to the FIR,” added Jai Inder.

Asked if illegal mining was going on in the area, Jai Inder Kaur said the Governor had sought a detailed report on the matter and had assured her of verifying if any illegal activities were ongoing.

Simranjit said she runs an NGO, Jujhar Welfare Association, which spreads awareness about the rules and regulations of mining among villagers so that the mafia does not harass them. The members of the NGO also highlight how village roads are being damaged by trucks involved in sand mining, the harassment of villagers and the false FIRs being registered against the villagers on the complaints of the mining mafia, she said.

Simranjit said that yesterday evening she had gone to Sasrali colony for a seminar where the goons of a sand mining contractor attacked her and her team. “A horrifying incident occurred on April 17 when the goons of the mining mafia attacked unarmed villagers. They beat me and attacked me with a kirpan and dragged me by my hair. I got 15 stitches and a fracture. Several other villagers, including Amandeep Singh and Balraj Singh, suffered grave injuries in the attack. Despite clear video evidence, police officials didn’t bother to register an FIR, but after we raised the matter with the Governor, a case was registered,” added she.

Simranjit said, while sand mining was legal the mafia was involved in illegal activities. “Earlier, when villagers had raised the issue that roads are being broken by the mining trucks and commuters are not safe on the roads as the trucks are driven rashly, the contractor had assured the villagers that they would make sure the trucks are not using the road during peak traffic hours but now again queues of trucks can be seen during the peak hours, causing harassment to villagers,” added the advocate.

Ludhiana Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said an FIR had been registered against the assailants and justice would be delivered to the villagers.

Ludhiana