Official’s assault: MC staff give 15-day ultimatum to arrest developer

Ludhiana: Six days after a woman building inspector of Ludhiana municipal corporation was allegedly abused and assaulted by private real estate developer during a demolition drive, the MC employees continued their protest at zone D office on Tuesday, giving police a 15-day deadline to nab the accused, failing which they would go on a strike.
With the incident and follow-up protest giving ammunition to the opposition to attack the Congress government, mayor Balkar Sandhu tried to pacify the protesters, saying that the police were trying to catch hold of the developer, but he has absconded along with his entire family.
Cops also tried to defuse the situation by visiting the spot and assuring the agitators that the accused would be arrested soon.
After all the assurances, the MC staff ended the protest after an hour.
The sources said Congress leaders have been asking the employees to postpone the strike for the time being so as to avoid its effect on the election process. The Akali Dal has already leveled allegations against the Congress saying that the developer has close relations with the senior party leaders. Though the congress leadership has denied such links, they do not want the opposition leaders to make the incident an election issue.
Mayor Balkar Sandhu claimed that Congress leaders have given clear directions to the police officials for nabbing the developer from anywhere, but he has left his house with his family members. He said he was always there with employees.
Chairman of Municipal Employees Sangharsh Union Jaswant Singh Sekhon said, “We have given another 15 days to the police and civic authorities to nab the accused and after this period we will start an indefinite strike.”
On April 24, a team comprising building branch officials from Zone B had gone to demolish structures in an illegal colony on Tibba Road, when private developer Gurnam Singh had rammed his car into a vehicle of MC officials. He also abused and slapped the building inspector Kashish Garg.
On the basis of her statement, the police had registered an FIR against the developer under sections of attempt to murder and others.
Visitors suffer
The visitors to the MC offices had to wait to get their works done till the gate rally was over and staff returned to their seats. Suvidha centers were locked from outside as their the staff joined the protest of MC employees.