SAD planned attack on my younger brother: BJP MLA Anil Joshi

CHANDIGARH: Punjab local bodies minister and BJP MLA Anil Joshi on Wednesday accused the Akalis of carrying out a planned attack on his younger brother in Tarn Taran. A day after the 15-minute firing was caught on camera, he went on to allege that it was a plot to eliminate him and demoralize the BJP cadre ahead of the February 22-26 civic elections.

The BJP also issued a strong statement seeking the SHO’s dismissal and SSP Manmohan Sharma’s suspension while warning the “errant Punjab cops” that a list of their names would be forwarded to Union home ministry and the PMO in Delhi. The BJP said the incident has raised doubts about the allies contesting the civic polls jointly.

“My brother was alone and helpless as the Akali workers pounced on him and fired shots at him. It was a planned attack as the cops can be seen smiling. The police are directly under Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal. He must answer why they are yet to arrest the accused,” said Joshi, a legislator from Amritsar North.

The video, that has gone viral, shows a sitting Akali Dal councillor Baljit Singh Gill firing three gunshots at Joshi’s brother Rajesh Ku mar Raja outside the SDM office in Tarn Taran. It also shows Tarn Taran city SHO Nirmal Singh smiling and looking on as SAD workers thrash Raja.

Raja, who is contesting the February 24 municipal polls, insists he was visiting the SDM office to point out a mistake in the voters’ list in his ward number 14. The attackers claim that he abused them.

The government issued a statement that an SIT comprising IG (border range) Ishwar Chandra Sharma and Amritsar SSP Jitender Singh Aulakh had been formed to investigate the incident.

Akali Dal spokesperson Daljit Cheema told TOI that the government would ensure a fair probe even as Joshi alleged that the attack was at the behest of SAD’s Tarn Taran MLA and chief parliamentary secretary Harmeet Singh Sandhu.