Sukhbir Badal, other Akali workers booked in Muktsar

Former Deputy chief minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and some Akali workers were booked Wednesday for allegedly thrashing a Congress worker at Killianwali village in Punjab's Muktsar district during zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls, officials said.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) was registered, Muktsar SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi said.

Badal has been named in the FIR, the SSP said.

The complainant identified as 55-year-old Jatinderpal Singh alleged he was thrashed by a group of Akali workers led by Badal, SSP Dhesi said.

He also alleged his vehicle was damaged and that he was given life threats, the official said. The complaint claimed Akali workers pelted stones at him and his associates.

He alleged Badal was leading a group of over 100 supporters at Killianwali village and Akali workers were beating up other workers and claimed a video of the incident went viral on social media, an official said.

It was alleged that Badal was "provoking workers" to thrash Congress supporters, the official said.

Polling to the zila parishads and panchayat samitis was underway in Punjab. There were reports of clashes between Congress and Akali workers in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, and Amritsar, officials said.