Day after attack, Rupnagar legislator's security cover upgraded

A day after AAP's Rupnagar legislator Amarjit Singh Sandoa was allegedly attacked by members of a sand mining mafia, his security cover has been upgraded, a senior police official said today.

Sandoa was allegedly attacked near Nurpur Bedi in Ropar district yesterday.

"The security cover of the MLA has been upgraded," Rupnagar Senior Superintendent of Police Bachan Singh Sandhu said here.

Two security personnel who were accompanying the legislator during the attack were sent to police lines for failing to protect him, Sandhu said.

He added that while five accused in yesterday's attack had been identified, a total of 12 people were booked under relevant sections of the law.

Rupnagar police had arrested three relatives of key accused Ajwinder Singh in connection with the case yesterday.

Ajwinder and another accused, Bachittar Singh, fled after the incident, police said.

Security cover given to them earlier due to life threats they faced from gangster Dilpreet Singh was subsequently withdrawn, the SSP said.

Sandoa was visiting a quarry to verify reports of illegal sand mining in Rupnagar's Beinhara village when he was attacked with iron rods and wooden planks.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had sought a detailed report of the incident from the Rupnagar deputy commissioner after the opposition parties expressed outrage.

The attack on Sandoa came three days after alleged members of a sand mining mafia attacked six forest department officers in Punjab's Mohali district. Two of them were seriously injured.