In the backdrop of the shooting of a dancer in a marriage ceremony in Bathinda, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday urged the Election Commission to crack down “immediately on the proliferation of arms” in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.
Capt Amarinder, in a letter to the Election Commission, said that the incident has once again highlighted the “total collapse of law and order in Punjab that is under control of armed gangs being patronized by the Badals”.
Capt Amarinder claimed that no action has been taken against the 52 armed gangs that the “DGP himself had admitted were active in the state”.
He claimed that the “total and brazen lawlessness” prevailing in the state was continuously getting “exacerbated” as the Assembly elections drew closer.
On Saturday night, a 22-year-old dancer was shot dead on stage allegedly by a drunk man after he was not allowed to dance with her troupe during the marriage function of a local commission agent's son in Bathinda district.
Even though the polls are just about two months away, authorities have not initiated any drive to get people to deposit their arms with the police, which is a usual practice ahead of any elections, he observed in his letter the Commission.
“Criminals are moving freely across the State with all kinds of arms, which are being used to unleash a reign of terror against common people,” Capt Amarinder alleged.
He warned the perpetually deteriorating law and order situation threatens to disrupt the poll process that is likely to witness unprecedented violence.
Appealing to the Election Commission to immediately intervene and come down heavily on the “growing” gun culture before the elections, Capt Amarinder claimed that a free and fair election was no longer possible in the State.
Reiterating his demand for immediate imposition of the Code of Conduct and holding elections under the President's Rule, he cited several incidents in recent days to underline the gravity of the problem.
Capt Amarinder also recalled several other incidents of criminal attacks and violence against people by Akali leaders and workers to underline the urgent need for EC intervention.
Alleging that armed goons and criminals, with many of them either belonging to the ruling party or patronised by them, were being allowed to terrorise and victimise people without fear, Capt Amarinder demanded stern action by the EC to curb the arms propagation in the State.