Two days after a shooting attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Zila Parishad member Dalvir Singh Kala Jawandha outside his commission agent shop in Bareta town, Mansa district, the victim has given his statement to police from his hospital bed in Ludhiana. Kala Jawandha, who suffered a bullet injury to his abdomen and is currently admitted to a private hospital in Ludhiana, has accused Budhlada MLA Budh Ram of being behind the attack.
Meanwhile, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also alleged that AAP MLA Budh Ram was behind the attack on Kala Jawandha. She further accused police of not registering an FIR in the case.
Speaking to The Tribune over phone, Kala said, “Our MLA, Budhlada’s Budh Ram, is behind the attack. He threatened me several times in the past. The police have also falsely implicated me in several cases recently without any fault. Even during the municipal council elections, the MLA warned me of action. He, along with a sarpanch, hired shooters to kill me.”
Earlier in the day, Harsimrat said, “Kala is directly naming the Budhlada MLA as being behind the attack on him, but police have not even registered an FIR. He suffered a bullet injury and narrowly escaped death. The MLA had threatened him.”
Reacting to the allegations, Budhlada MLA Budh Ram said, “Politics has stooped so low. I never made a phone call to Kala. If there is even a single proof, I will resign from my post. These are baseless allegations, and I condemn them. The attack could be the result of Kala’s enmity with someone. I do not interfere in the functioning of police. Recently, a resident of Boha town died by suicide, and pressure was built to register an FIR against me then too.”
Gyaneshwar Sharma, SHO of the Bareta police station, said, “The team has recorded the victim’s statement today and is returning to Bareta. A case will be registered once it reaches the police station. However, I am unaware of the contents of the statement.”
Sources said two people have already been detained, both belonging to Mansa district.