A preventive action by the Tanda police — arresting a youth after the municipal poll victory celebrations — has sparked debate, with records showing the move was based on alleged “sacrilege” of an election symbol despite no FIR being registered.
According to General Diary (GD) No. 12 recorded at Police Station Tanda on May 30, the police received information that Arshdeep Singh and several others allegedly created a nuisance during celebrations after the victory of a Congress-backed candidate from Ward No. 1. The GD entry states that the group allegedly committed “sacrilege" of a broom, the election symbol of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and raised objectionable slogans against the defeated candidate, creating tension and apprehensions of a breach of peace.
The police initiated preventive proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). On the next day, Arshdeep was taken into custody, produced before the Executive Magistrate and subsequently sent to judicial custody.
SHO Gurinderjit Singh Nagra confirmed that no FIR has been registered against Arshdeep or any of the other persons named in the proceedings. He said the action was purely preventive in nature and was taken to avert any possible law-and-order problem. The SHO added that Arshdeep is scheduled to be produced before the court again on June 2.
Interestingly, while the police diary specifically refers to the alleged “sacrilege" of an election symbol, the authorities have not lodged a criminal case in connection with the incident. Instead, the matter has been dealt with under preventive provisions aimed at maintaining public order.
The police maintain that the celebrations following the Congress candidate’s victory escalated into actions that could have disturbed peace between rival political groups, necessitating immediate intervention.
However, Arshdeep’s family has strongly disputed the allegations. His uncle Balvir Singh and aunt Parminder Kaur said Arshdeep was present only to celebrate the victory and was carrying packets of laddoos for distribution among supporters. They denied that he threw, damaged or committed any act of disrespect against the broom symbol or abused any political rival.
The family alleged that Arshdeep was detained from their bookshop near the railway station and described him as a well-mannered young man with no history of unlawful conduct. They claim he has been unnecessarily implicated in the matter.
With Arshdeep remaining in jail and the next hearing fixed for June 2, the case has attracted attention in political and legal circles, particularly because the proceedings stem from allegations of “sacrilege" of an election symbol without the registration of an FIR.
