A case of alleged assault was reported in Sector 77 on Thursday morning after former IAS officer and senior BJP leader SR Ladhar and his son Gautam Girish were campaigning for the upcoming Municipal Corporation polls.
Ladhar alleged that three men abused him, assaulted him and used casteist remarks around 7 am while he was campaigning for Gautam, the BJP candidate from ward number 40.
According to Ladhar, his family was standing outside their house when neighbours objected to the early morning campaigning, saying it disturbed peace in the area. He alleged that the owner of a nearby house and two others surrounded them, pushed and assaulted them, and subjected the family to mental harassment with derogatory slurs.
Based on Ladhar’s complaint, Sohana police registered a case under Sections 115(2), 126(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Thursday.
Ladhar has demanded an impartial investigation by Punjab Police and the Mohali administration. BJP leader Sanjeev Vashisht said the party would pursue legal means and “will not bow to any pressure.”
Meanwhile, parties have stepped up preparations for the Mohali MC elections. Congress released a list of 49 candidates, with former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and former deputy mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi securing tickets for their nominees. The BJP announced 42 candidates. Sharanjit Kaur from ward number 39, who quit BJP to join AAP a day earlier, still appeared on the BJP list. SAD also declared 37 candidates for the polls.
