16 of Congress, BJP arrested in Jalandhar over protest against hotel demolition, get bail

Jalandhar: Police arrested 16 BJP and Congress leaders past midnight on Tuesday after detaining them during a protest against the demolition of a portion of a hotel owned by a Jalandhar-based vernacular media group. An FIR naming 24 persons was registered for assaulting and obstructing public servants on duty.Most of those arrested were BJP leaders. Among them were former MP Sushil Rinku, former MLA Sheetal Angural and All India Mahila Congress national coordinator Jasleen Sethi, the only woman detained. Senior BJP leader and former minister Manoranjan Kalia was also taken to the police station but was not named in the FIR. He refused to leave when offered, choosing to stay with other leaders.Former Congress MLA Rajinder Beri, Punjab Youth Congress secretary Angad Dutta and councillor Sherry Chadha were also named in the FIR.The case, registered on the complaint of an MC official, stated that officials were demolishing an "illegally constructed" part of the hotel after a local court vacated a stay order. It alleged that protesters blocked officials and machinery from carrying out the demolition.All arrested leaders were produced in a local court on Wednesday and were granted bail in the afternoon after arguments by their counsel.Meanwhile, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma led a protest near the court complex. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh also reached in support.Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar criticised the AAP government, alleging suppression of dissent and targeting of media. BJP leaders claimed the action reflected the government's unease following Union home minister Amit Shah's recent rally in Moga.. MSID:: 129659835 413 |