Akali Dal govt 'shielding' criminal elements in Punjab: Bajwa

In the backdrop of the murder of a Congress Block president, party's Punjab unit chief Partap Singh Bajwa today accused the Shiromani Akali Dal government of shielding criminal elements in the state.
Terming the killing of Sukhraj Singh Bhugupur, as a "political murder", Bajwa said that he has updated Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice president Rahul Gandhi and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on the issue.
Sukhraj, 22, was shot dead allegedly by Akali activists yesterday shortly after he filed nominations for a second term at a place in Patti assembly constituency in Tarn Taran district, nearly 45 km from here.

"SAD activists were directly involved in the murder, which reflects there was no such thing as law and order in Punjab," the Congress leader said, adding "the real threat to peace in the state is from the ruling party itself."
He claimed that reports of attack on Congress candidates during Panchayat elections were coming from different districts of Punjab.
Police was working under pressure of the ruling party to terrorise the Congress candidates, he alleged.
Zila Parishad and Block Samiti polls will be held in Punjab by May 15 and gram panchayat elections on May 31.