BATHINDA: After political parties objected to dumping of wheat flour meant for distribution among the needy during the Covid-19 lockdown, Bathinda deputy commissioner B Srinivasan, on Thursday, set up a two-member committee to inquire why the ration was not distributed among the underprivileged and dumped in a pit at Jogger Park.
The committee will submit its report in three days. Meanwhile, Bathinda Police has registered a case against three activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on charges of criminal trespass for jumping into the vacant Mayor House near Jogger Park after scaling the wall to check for more dumped wheat flour. A case has been registered against Chamkaur Singh Mann, Nirmal Singh Sandhu and Rajdeep Singh besides 15 to 20 persons under section 447 (criminal trespass).
SAD termed registration of a case against party workers as unfortunate and said instead of the Akalis, officials responsible should have been booked. “The DC has asked additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Rajdeep Singh Brar and district food supplies controller Jaspreet Kahlon to investigate and report in three days,” said Bathinda MC commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill. He added that officials found responsible for allowing the flour to rot in the pit will be punished.
Former minister Sikandar Singh Maluka and former MLA Sarup Chand Singla said if the case registered against Akali activists is not withdrawn and culprits are not booked, SAD will stage a protest.