Jalandhar: The Shahkot police on Wednesday arrested BJP leader and former MLA K.D. Bhandari along with party leader Rana Hardeep Singh, triggering protests by BJP workers.
According to sources, the two leaders were taken to Bilga police station after their arrest. BJP workers staged a sit-in outside the station and raised slogans against the Punjab government.
Police officials, led by DSP Shahkot Unkar Singh Brar and SHO Balwinder Singh Bhullar, had moved in to arrest the leaders when party workers resisted. During the confrontation, BJP leaders alleged that police manhandled them and their supporters.
The arrests came after the BJP, under the leadership of K.D. Bhandari and Rana Hardeep Singh, organised a camp at Dana Mandi in Rupewal village to promote central government welfare schemes.
BJP leaders accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of misusing the police to suppress opposition. “The Mann government is destroying democracy by arresting opponents and obstructing welfare schemes meant for the people,” said Bhandari and Rana in a joint statement.
