PATIALA: AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra has allegedly escaped police custody while being taken to a local police station after his arrest.
According to Punjab Police sources, Pathanmajra and his accomplices fired at police officers during the escape and even ran over one personnel, leaving him injured.
According to reports, Pathanmajra and his accomplices ran over police personnel with an SUV.
The Sanour MLA was arrested a day after publicly criticising his party’s Delhi leadership.
His detention in Patiala was linked to a
rape case filed against him, sparking political uproar in the region.
In a social media post, Pathanmajra claimed the case related to his former wife and alleged that the fresh charges of rape were politically motivated.
“I was booked because I raised my voice against my own government, especially the Delhi leadership,” he wrote.
His brother, Hardev Singh, said the MLA was taken into custody under Section 376 of the IPC despite already having been granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “He was arrested from Dabri in Haryana in a case where bail was already granted. This is clearly an attempt to silence him,” he alleged.
CIA Patiala confirmed that three weapons have been recovered and one accomplice of MLA Pathanmajra has been arrested.
The arrested individual has been identified as Balwinder Singh, while the search for MLA Pathanmajra continues.
Police said two officers were injured when stones were thrown at them during the MLA’s escape attempt.
Authorities added that supporters of the MLA not only pelted stones but also opened fire at the police team.
Before his arrest, Pathanmajra had appealed to colleagues and supporters via Facebook to protest outside the Patiala SSP’s office at the Mini Secretariat. He urged people to reach “in tractors, trolleys, and cars” to demand his release. “I will not be silenced even if more cases are registered against me. Will AAP’s Delhi leadership rule Punjabis now? Even Congress and BJP did not interfere to this extent,” he said.
The MLA has repeatedly accused the party’s central leadership of sidelining Punjab leaders and “remote-controlling” the state. Recently, he criticised officials of the Irrigation Department over flood relief efforts in his constituency. Soon after, his security cover was withdrawn and police officers in the area were reshuffled — moves that raised eyebrows.
“This is retaliation. They looted Punjab more than Abdali. Now they want to sell Punjab,” Pathanmajra declared.
Bharat Khanna is a Principal correspondent with The Times of Indi...
Read MoreBharat Khanna is a Principal correspondent with The Times of India. A journalist for 15 years, he covers Patiala and neighbouring districts and writes on power sector, pollution, environment, politics, contemporary trends, crime, farmer issues, and issues of Punjab.
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