FATEHGARH SAHIB:  Due to alleged terror created by Akalis and police, around ten families belongs to Dalit community who voted for Congress in MC election in ward no 14 of Sirhind had fled after locking their houses.

Harjit Kaur, who  had  unsuccessfully contested the election from this reserve ward against the SAD candidate Baljinder Kaur, had also left her house along with his other family members.

Harjit Kaur and other Dalit families , who had abandoned their house have pasted posters in front of their houses that they are forced to leave their houses due to terror of Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti, who belongs to ruling SAD. They had sought  help from All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi.

A press conference was convened in afternoon by Punjab Kisan Khet Mazdoor Congress(PKKMC) state president Kuljit Singh Nagra in Sirhind, in which he presented the family of the Congress candidate  Harjit Kaur and other dalits including Avtar Singh, Narayan Singh, Rajinder Singh, Kaka Singh, Tarsem Singh, Vaisakhi Ram, Karam Singh, Balkar Singh.

 In the press conference, the Dalit families alleged that they had forced to leave their houses at Akalis are harassing her for casting their vote in favour of Congress candidates and local police is also raiding their houses only to oblige the Akalis and abusing them .

While talking to media Nagra said that on receiving the news that Dalits had left their houses due to terror unleashed by Akalis and police, he had immediately conveyed it to Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC) office and the party is ready to provide shelter at Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh.

 He said that if the justice was not given  PKKMC under the aegis of PPCC will convene 'Maha Panchyat' at Sirhind. He said that victim families will even approach Punjab State Human Right Commission, SC/ST Commission, Woman Commission and other bodies.   Nagra said that  false cases were registered against the congress workers by the police.

He stated that the Congress had already submitted complaint to State Election Commission against the violence and booth capturing in ward no 14 of Sirhind by the MLA along with his son Gurwinder Singh Bhatti along with 50-60 musclemen. He alleged that these persons entered the polling booth no 2 of the ward around 10 am on June 30 and polling agent of Congress candidate Pargat Singh objected to their illegal entry and they returned after threatening him of dire consequences afterward.

He said later at about 2 pm Sirhind SHO came along with about 15-20 muscle of SAD and put the Congress polling agent in police Gypsy and took him to undisclosed destination. He alleged the musclemen thrashed out the Congress candidate and other candidates and captured the polling booth. Supporters of Congress and Independent candidates started peaceful dharna outside the booth and the SSP, DC and Election Tehsildar was informed about the incident and they were requested to countermand the election of the polling booth. While people were sitting outside the booth in dharna, the booth no. 1 was captured by the goons of the MLA.

Dharna and protested continued till 7 pm wherein former minister Dr Harbans Lal, senior congress leader Kuljit Singh Nagra, SAD(A) leader Emann Singh Mann and Kuldeep Singh Sahota president of Balmiki Sabha and other prominent persons sat on dharna. At about 7 pm, the above mentioned persons were arrested by the police and remaining peaceful protesters including women were lathi charged by the police.  He said that people of the area gathered hearing the news and staged dharna on the GT Road against this goonda-ism.  He said that the police has registered a false case against Pargat Singh.

Nagra demanded re-election in ward no 14 to restore the faith and confidence of people in demoractic system.

A senior police officer maintained that the police is not harassing any one but executing its duty. He said that raids
were conducted only at the houses of those persons, who are booked by police under various sections of IPC including damaging public property .