CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Ropar, Punjab, Amarjit Singh Sandoa was allegedly attacked by mining mafia in Anandpur Sahib last week. He was reportedly attacked when he went with mediapersons to the site where illegal mining was being done using giant JCB machines. Sandoa is said to have been beaten up mercilessly by goons of the mining mafia. They even removed his turban and beat up a gunman accompanying him. The goons reportedly misbehaved with the reporters as well. Sandoa is currently in a local hospital and has suffered serious injuries.
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia reacted to the incident saying that he mining mafia continues to rule Punjab under the government of Captain Amarinder Singh just as it did during the tenure of the Akali government. He urged the Punjab CM to act against the culprits, pointing out that AAP MLAs were taking the mafia head on despite being in opposition. The incident came even as the state government has decided to arm its staff members following an attack on six officials.
The officers were attacked by five to seven assailants with sticks and sharp-edged weapons early last week when they intercepted a tractor-trolley near Seonk village in Mohali. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) lashed out at the Punjab government saying it proved that the state had descended into “jungle raj”. “The sand mafia has become so bold that it is ready to murder government officials coming in the way of its illegal operations.”
