[Attack on BJP Workers] “Personally Ensure safety of the petitioners”: Punjab & Haryana HC directs officials who faced attack by a mob under garb of Farmer Protest

Noting the urgency of the situation Punjab and Haryana High Court summoned a midnight hearing on Sunday to provide security to petitioners who were alleged to be illegally detained by an armed mob said to be consisting of farmers.  

The Bench of Justice Suvir Sehgal ordered the Director General of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, to provide adequate security to the petitioners and personally ensure that the petitioners and other detainees are provided a safe exit without harm.

The State, DGP, Senior Superintendent of Police, and Additional Solicitor General were all notified by phone.

The Court further ordered the respondents to provide a report by 2 p.m. on Monday, July 12.

Case in brief

In the plea filed by Berjeshwar Jaswal and 14 others through Advocate Anil Mehta before the court, the petitioners submitted that on July 11 they were attending a meeting at the house of Mr. Berjeshwar Jaswal, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker. The area police was informed about the meeting and 100 police officials were deputed at the said house. 

The plea further alleged that while the meeting was going on, approximately 500 farmers who were protesting against the three agricultural laws gathered around the meeting venue. Seeing the situation the police suggested the political leaders to finish the meeting in short span.

The petition further stated that when the petitioners, including two little children, attempted to leave the premises, they were chased and illegally kept within the property. The mob also succeeded in breaking the electrical connection to the premises and was pelting stones at the house, plea alleged.

The petitioners fearing for their safety pleaded for the immediate direction from the court to the authorities for providing protection to the petitioners. The petitioners pleaded before the court that,

“if the immediate and prompt action is not taken in time for the safety and the release of the petitioners, this anti social armed mob outside the house of the petitioner No. 10 who has detained the petitioners might cause injuries to the petitioners as their approach and aggression clearly indicate that their motive is to give a big message to the Govt. even without considering the consequences of same.

The court took immediate action and accordingly issued directions to ensure that the detained petitioners are safely allowed to exit from the custody of the armed mob.

Further Developments

In compliance of the Court’s order on 11 June, a report was filed before the court on 12 June by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patiala stating the arrangement that the police has done to ensure the safety of the petitioners.

Case Title: Berjeshwar Jaswal and others V ersus State of Punjab and others.