The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said it was condemnable that businessmen were leaving Punjab because of the failure of the law and order machinery to secure their life and property.In a statement here, SAD spokesman Parambans Singh Romana said the recent migration of a Jaitu family in Faridkot had revealed the precarious law and order situation in Punjab. He said the entire family of rice mill owner Ravinder Kochhar, who was gunned down by gangsters in July this year, had migrated abroad after selling their property. “The family left their home and hearth after realizing that they were also not secure as the State police failed to apprehend the gangsters”.Stating that a fear psychosis had entered the minds of people, particularly businessmen who were being subject to extortion as had happened with Ravinder Kochhar, the Akali leader said this was a direct result of the open encouragement given to goonda elements by the Congress government. “Immediately after coming to power the Congress party gave a free rein to its workers to persecute Akalis, many of whom were injured grievously and even murdered.
This in turn bolstered gangsters and resulted in an increase in extortions, dacoities and inter-gang warfare. The situation was further exacerbated by the visit of Uttar Pradesh gangster Raja Bhaiya to Faridkot. The gangster was hosted by local Congress legislator Kushaldeep Dhillon who even boasted about the same on his facebook page. The SAD submitted that the reason behind Raja Bhaiya’s visit to Faridkot should be verified along with a thorough probe into who all he met during this visit but the Congress government refused to do anything in the matter”.Mr Romana said this attitude had resulted in a further spike in robberies and dacoities in Jaitu and elsewhere in the State. He said last week only there were two robberies in Jaitu including an armed robbery. He demanded immediate action against the two gangsters who had killed Kochhar besides strict action against all politicians who were encouraging gang culture in Punjab.