AAP MLA injured as mining mafia assaults him in Ropar

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, June 21

Aam Aadmi Party’s Ropar MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa was attacked by at least 12 persons during a visit to a sand quarry at nearby Baihara village on Thursday. One of his gunmen and personal assistant (PA) were beaten up. Sandoa has visited various sand quarries in the area in the last couple of weeks to raise the issue of illegal mining in the district.

Editorial: Law, no order

While Sandoa claimed that accompanied by a few mediapersons he had gone to the village to expose the mining mafia, the main accused, Ajvinder Singh, maintained there was no ban on mining in the area. He alleged Sandoa had been demanding money from him for “smooth business operations”.

Besides Ajvinder, his uncle Amarjit Singh, cousins Jaswinder Singh and Manjit Singh and Bhauwal village resident Bachittar Singh have been booked. Amarjit, Manjit and Jaswinder have been arrested and two guns seized. 

As Sandoa and mediapersons reached the quarry, a number of poclain machines and tippers speeded off. Ajvinder and his accomplices reached there, accusing the MLA of demanding money. They first abused him and then thrashed him with wooden planks and iron rods. When one of his gunmen intervened, he was beaten up too and so was Sandoa’s PA Jagpal.

The MLA was taken to the Anandpur Sahib Civil Hospital. The doctors referred him to PGI, Chandigarh.

Ajvinder, whose father is the sarpanch of Baihara village, claimed he had supported Sandoa in the 2017 polls. He alleged the MLA had taken Rs 5 lakh and recently sent his PA and a relative, demanding another Rs 5 lakh. Sandoa’s PA Jagpal denied the “false allegations”, claiming Ajvinder was trying to skirt the issue. SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandh said the other accused would be caught soon.

Admn checking facts

• Mining at the Baihara quarry was banned while it was allowed at bordering quarry of Harsa Bela village. The administration is yet to ascertain whether site in question falls in Harsa Bela
• The main accused, Ajvinder Singh, is on bail in a murder case. He and Bachittar Singh were awarded life term for killing gangster Kesar Singh Malhi. The Ropar SSP said he was involved in 10 criminal cases.