VALMIKI COMMUNITY STAGES PROTEST MARCH IN ABOHAR; BURNS EFFIGY OF CHIEF MINISTER

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

Hundreds of men and women from the Valmiki community took to the streets to demand the arrest of those responsible for the death of Ajay Kumar—a resident of Sant Nagar—who succumbed to bullet injuries during the treatment following a shooting incident. The community members along with representatives of NGOs held a protest march through the city and burned an effigy of the Chief Minister of Punjab at Ambedkar Chowk. Raising slogans against the Punjab government and the police administration, the protesters demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

The family of the deceased, Ajay, alleged that the police have failed to take appropriate action against the individuals named by Ajay in his statements. They further accused the Punjab government of allegedly shielding the guilty. The protesters warned that their agitation would continue until all those involved in the case are arrested.

MLA Sandeep Jakhar, who missed today’s Vidhan Sabha session and participated in the protest, remarked that while the government has displayed portraits of Baba Sahib Dr. BR Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh in its offices, their ideals are not being put into practice. He pointed out that a poor SC family, who should have been in the comfort of their own home during this time of grief, has instead been forced to take to the streets to demand justice.

During the demonstration, participants also demanded that Shiv Lal Doda (a Bhim Tank murder convict) —the father-in-law of AAP Halqa Incharge Dr. Suhani Doda —be named in the case. Protesters also raised slogans against Doda.

Meanwhile, Shiv Lal Doda has categorically denied all allegations levelled against him, stating that he has no connection whatsoever to the shooting incident involving Ajay.