BJP MLA beaten up and stripped by a mob of farm law protesters in Punjab

A group of farm law protesters thrashed a BJP MLA, tore his clothes and threw black ink at him in Malout in Punjab's Muktsar district on Saturday. BJP's Abohar MLA Arun Narang along with other local leaders were surrounded by a group of protesters in Malout where they had to address a press conference.

The protesters — alleged to be members of farm organisations BKU Ekta Sidhupur, BKU Lakhowal and BKU Kadian — were already waiting near the BJP office in the area for Arun Narang to arrive. On his arrival, the protesting farmers threw black ink at him which also stained his car.

Some police personnel then took the MLA and local leaders to a shop. But later when they came out of it, the protesters allegedly thrashed them and also tore Narang's clothes, the police said. Narang was later escorted to a safer place by the police. The protesters also vandalised the BJP office.

BJP did not lodge a police complaint after the incident. "I do not know the protesters... They beat me and tore off my clothes. Police had to struggle to take me to a shop. I have apprised party leaders about the incident," MLA Narang said.

Amid widespread condemnation of the incident, a case was registered on the complaint of Muktsar superintendent of police (SP) Gurmail Singh against Muktsar BKU (Sidhupur) president Sukhdev Singh, block president Lakhan Pal Sharma, general secretary Nirmal Singh besides activists Nanak Singh, Kulwinder Singh Danewala, Rajinder Singh, Avtar Singh, all residents of Muktsar district and 300 unidentified persons under Sections 307, 353, 186, 188, 332, 342, 506, 148 and 149 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Malout police station.

"Some people have been arrested who were involved in the incident. BKU leaders are on the run. Raids are on to arrest them," police said.

SP Gurmail Singh said that he had warned the MLA due to security reasons and had also requested to change the venue. Yet Narang, along with others, reached the BJP office.

"The police tried to save the BJP leaders, but the protesters attacked the police also with the intention to murder. Police personnel, including me, sustained injuries during the incident," he said.

The SP has been admitted to a hospital at Malout.

"Capt Amarinder Singh should take moral responsibility for the incident and step down or his government should be dismissed and President’s rule imposed in the state as it has not only failed in protecting the law but is also promoting anti-social elements," Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma said.

Condemning the attack on Narang, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh warned on Saturday of strict action against anyone trying to disturb the state’s peace. He also directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to take strict and lawful action against those who had clashed with police personnel trying to rescue the MLA.

Source: hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.com

Written by Siddhant Sharma