Ludhiana Police on Tuesday arrested Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) chief and sitting MLA from Atamnagar Simarjit Singh Bains following allegations of attempt to murder for allegedly opening fire at Congress candidate Kamaljit Karwal on late Monday night — ahead of the Punjab assembly polls.
Amidst high drama, the police and paramilitary arrested Bains from the bar room of Ludhiana court complex, where he had gone to meet the lawyers as he was booked for murder bid charges, besides others. Before taking Bains in its custody, the police sealed the court building.
Two-time MLA from Ludhiana’s Atamnagar constituency, Bains, his son Ajaypreet Bains, and 100-150 other supporters have been booked on a complaint by Karwal’s aide Gurwinder Singh Prinkle. Karwal was once Bains’ close friend; and now, both are contesting from Atam Nagar constituency against each other.
On Monday night, Congress candidate Karwal alleged that Bains, his son Ajaypreet Bains, and at least 100 accomplices attacked him in Ludhiana’s Daba area when he was having a meeting at a worker’s office. He accused Bains of firing gunshot at him and also vandalizing their cars.
Acting on the complaint, the Ludhiana police lodged an FIR against Bains and his accomplices under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 148 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act, among others.
Following the incident, Karwal claimed that Bains and his son were present at the spot and they were captured in videos. “Bains has completely lost it because he knows he is going to lose the election this time. Out of frustration, he is attacking Congress workers now. How can such people who openly indulge in hooliganism and violence be allowed to roam openly?”
Bains, refuting the allegations, claimed that none of his supporters were involved in any attack; while accusing Karwal of concocting stories to defame him. Bains also alleged that Congress supporters, instead, assaulted LIP workers.
This is the second major clash between the two groups in the run-up to the Punjab polls to be held on February 20. Earlier on January 19, the supporters of both candidates clashed over installing hoardings. Atamnagar constituency has the highest number of sensitive polling stations in the district.
Bains is already booked in 15 cases, including rape, violating Covid protocols, robbery, criminal intimidation, restoring power connections, defamation, disobeying a public servant’s order, and assaulting a public servant. In the rape case, the Court had issued non-bailable warrants against Bains on which he has got a stay from the Supreme Court till February 10.