A day after attack on Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader, BJP criticises Mann for ‘deteriorating’ law and order | News from India

LUDHIANA: A day after a Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader was brutally attacked here, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday blamed the alleged “incompetence” of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government for the “deteriorating” law and order in the state. Sandeep Thapar (58) was seriously injured after he was attacked in full view of three assailants with swords here on Friday.

Jakhar attacked Chief Minister Mann, saying that the latter was keeping quiet about the incident as he was busy in Jalandhar campaigning for the upcoming Jalandhar West Legislative Assembly by-election.

“He (Bhagwant Mann) lives in his own world and is busy saving his chair by camping in Jalandhar. The entire state government is sitting there,” the BJP leader alleged.

The by-election, necessitated by the resignation of Sheetal Angural as AAP MP, will be held on July 10 and the votes will be counted on July 13.

Jakhar claimed that no one feels safe in Punjab except the chief minister’s family, who travel with a detachment of security forces at the state’s expense.

“Intolerance and hate crimes are on the rise in Punjab. The government should wake up and realise its responsibility,” he said.

“There is a pattern emerging in Punjab at the moment: those who claim their feelings have been hurt are trying to harm others. That is dangerous,” said Jakhar.

The BJP leader said that if the state government is unable to provide basic security to the people, the central government is always ready to help.

He also visited the hospital where Thapar is staying to enquire about his health.

The Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader was attacked as he was leaving the Samvedna Trust office near Civil Hospital on Friday after attending a ceremony to mark the fourth death anniversary of the trust’s founder and president Ravinder Arora, police said.

The Samvedna Trust provides free ambulance service and hearse to patients.

Hours after the incident, two of the attackers were arrested in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Video footage of the incident has appeared on social media.

In the alleged video, the attackers, disguised as Nihangs, approached Thapar as he was riding a scooter with his security guard sitting on the pillion seat.

While Thapar was speaking to the attackers with folded hands, one of them suddenly attacked him with a sword as passersby watched. Another attacker appears to push Thapar’s security guard away.

After Thapar fell to the ground, the third attacker also started hitting him with a sword. Later, two of the accused fled on Thapar’s scooter, leaving him in a pool of blood.

Nihangs belong to a Sikh warrior sect whose members are usually seen wearing blue robes and carrying traditional weapons.