A joint Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation today submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore and enjoined him to direct the State government to hold a judicial inquiry into the murderous assault on forest officials by the sand mafia in Mohali as well as into illegal activities of this mafia in Punjab as it had engulfed the State in lawlessness.The joint SAD-BJP delegation, which was led by SAD mp and secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and BJP State president Shvet Malik, briefed the Governor about the murderous assault on two forest officials by the sand mafia in Mohali two days back as well as open patronage being extended to the mafia by the Congress party.It also urged the Governor to direct the Congress government to ensure the safety of life and property of all employees who were working sincerely to check illegal activities besides taking prompt action to bring those indulging in such wonton heinous acts to book immediately.Briefing the Governor about the attack on the forest officials, the delegation said the State was descending into jungle raj with honest government officials who wanted to do their duty and check illegal mining becoming the subject of murderous assaults. It said on June 18, block forest official Devinder Singh was attacked with sharp edged weapons by mafia members travelling with a tractor trolley containing illegally mined sand at Seonk village in Mohali. It said while Davinder was grappling for life in the ICU ward of PGIMER, beldar Karnail Singh who was with him at the naka site, was also injured and was also admitted to PGI in a serious condition.
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa briefed the Governor that earlier a General Manager of mining department, Mr. Tehal Singh Sekhon was attacked by the sand mafia in full public view when he tried to stop a tipper loaded with illegally mined sand at Rajgarh village situated near Ghaggar River on November 19, 2017. He said an attempt was even made to crush him under the wheels of the tipper. He said the state of affairs was such that when Sekhon tried to lodge an FIR at Shambu police station he was thrashed by the SHO and pressurized to compromise with the miscreants solely because they enjoyed the patronage of the Ghanaur legislator.Mr Shvet Malik said it was clear that the sand mafia and other illegal activities were flourishing in the state with the open support of the ruling Congress party. He said there was terror in the minds of the people because there was no government worth its name to put a stop to the mafia raj. Members pointed out that immediately after the Congress government came into being then Irrigation and Power minister Rana Gurjit Singh acquired sand mines in the name of his Nepalese cook and office staff. They said as many as 16 Congress legislators ganged together to allot sand mines to their kin and associates through single bids which was patently wrong and illegal.
The delegation also disclosed how no action was taken against Congress Shahkot bypoll candidate Hardev Singh Laadi even when his involvement in illegal sand mining was widely highlighted by the media including newspapers and news Channels with concrete evidence. They said the then SHO of Mehatpur police station had shown exemplary courage by lodging an FIR against Laadi for his involvement in illegal sand mining activities, for which he had to pay a heavy price.The delegation said all this was happening because there was a sinister nexus between ruling party and criminals in the state, so whenever a probe was started for any heinous crime, it was sabotaged midway by ruling party members.The delegation also apprised the Governor that the law and order situation in Punjab started crumbling immediately after the Congress government came into being with Capt Amarinder Singh at the helm. It said in the last one year it had turned from bad to worse with armed robberies, murders, extortions and sensational killings and assassinations becoming the order of the day. Members pointed out that situation had become such that hardcore criminals were openly threatening the chief minister while sitting in jail what to talk about threats to ministers and even the State DGP.The delegation comprised of Mr Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Mr Bikram Singh Majithia and Mr Sikander Singh Maluka from the SAD and Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Mr Rajinder Bhandari, Mr Manoranjan Kalia, Mr Ashwani Sharma, Mr Kamal Sharma and Mr Rakesh Rathore from the BJP.