Punjab MLA hurt in attack by 'mining mafia'

AAP legislator Amarjit Singh Sandoa was allegedly attacked today by members of a sand mining mafia in Punjab's Rupnagar district.

The local MLA was visiting a quarry to verify reports of illegal sand mining in Beinhara village near Nurpur Bedi when he was attacked, the Aam Aadmi Party said.

He is in hospital in a stable condition, the party said.

Police said the MLA's personal security officer, head constable Sukhdeep Singh, was also injured when they were hit with iron rods and wooden planks.

This comes three days after alleged members of a sand mining mafia attacked six forest department officers in Mohali district, leaving two of them in a serious condition.

Rupnagar police arrested three men and were looking for two more as a video recording of the attack surfaced on social media.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh sought a detailed report from the Ropar Deputy Commissioner as opposition parties expressed outrage over the attack.

"Sandoa was attacked by goons from the mining mafia," Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP MLA who is also Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, said in Chandigarh.

But Rupnagar's Senior Superintendent of Police Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said they were yet to verify if it was a case of illegal mining.

A case of attempt to murder has been registered.

The turbans of the MLA and his gunman were tossed during the attack, police said.

Sandhu said police were also inquiring why the MLA's two personal security officers failed to protect him. They have been transferred to police lines.

The AAP MLA was accompanied by his associates and some media persons to the sand quarry.

The MLA was taken to PGIMER hospital in Chandigarh, where the head constable was also brought later.

Opposition parties slammed the state government, saying the law and order machinery in Punjab had broken down.

"If this is the plight of the elected representatives who are also provided security, imagine the fate of ordinary citizens," Khaira said.

A Shiromani Akal Dal-BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore.

"There is no rule of law in Punjab under the Congress regime," Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik told reporters later.

Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu described the attack as "unfortunate" and said exemplary punishment should be given to those behind it.

He said law must be feared, asserting that the chief minister had zero tolerance on crime.

The AAP has called an emergency meeting of its MLAs to discuss their further course of action.

Those arrested had been identified as Jaswinder Singh Goldy, Manjit Singh and Amarjit Singh, all residents of Beinhara village.

An SUV and two 12 bore guns were seized from them, police said.

Police are still looking for the main accused Ajwinder Singh, who they say has a criminal background and already faced several cases.