SIT formed to review FIR registered against protesters for piling up dung at BJP leader’s house

:dateline:Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Navjot Singh Mahal today constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to review the First Information Report (FIR) registered against the young protesters for piling up cattle-dung at the gate of the house of former Punjab Minister and senior BJP leader Tikshan Sood.

Mahal took this step after the farmers along with Dal Khalsa leaders met him today to raise the issue of �illegitimate� FIR registered under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

He said the SIT would investigate the incident thoroughly and address its all aspects.

The farmers who met him, demanded cancellation of the FIR citing that the young protesters angry over the objectionable remark made by the BJP leader did nothing offensive that is stated in the FIR, and adding attempt to murder charges to it is the most intolerable and objectionable act of the Police.

�The FIR has named Ranvir Singh alias Tohra, but there was no person with this name amongst the youngsters who piled up the dung. The protest was symbolic and totally peaceful, yet the Police booked the protesters under pressure from Sood and other BJP leaders. It was Sood who used obscene abusive language publicly against the protesters going by the video of the incident. It is highly shameful to use this abusive language for such a high stature person who has been minister of Punjab�, said Harcharanjit Singh Dhami, Dal Khalsa senior leader, who led the delegation of the farmers. �

Another Dal Khalsa leader Ranveer Singh said, �Sood should apologize for the words he used publicly without bothering the presence of the women at the spot or he would face protest by the women who turned angry over his objectionable language�.

The dung was heaped as Sood mocked the farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi against three farmer laws promulgated by BJP-led union government. He stated that those who are going to Delhi to join the stir, are actually going for a picnic. He was facing a backlash from the people of Punjab for making this remark.

On the basis of the statement of a local BJP worker, the FIR states that the protesters attempted to kill the Minister with deadly weapons.

All the human rights organizations have lodged protests against the case registered against the protesters �illegitimately�.