Congress alleges party-backed Rajasthan councillors detained in Haryana; Tijara poll postponed
Panchkula : Political tension erupted ahead of Monday’s election for chairperson of the Tijara municipal council in Rajasthan after the Congress alleged that 20 party-backed councillors and their families were intercepted and detained in Haryana’s Panchkula district late Sunday night.
The election was subsequently postponed.
The group, comprising 19 independent councillors and one Congress councillor, had been housed at a resort near Shimla to prevent poaching. They left for Tijara around 8pm to reach the town in time for the crucial voting.
A complaint filed by Congress election in charge Abhay Kumar Saini and independent councillor Shammudayal Saini alleged armed men, accompanied by Haryana Police personnel, stopped the convoy near the Chandimandir-Pinjore area of Panchkula around 10.45pm.
The complaint further alleged that unidentified people took control of the councillors, their families and minor children, restricted their movement and cut off communication. It sought the registration of an FIR and the preservation of CCTV footage, toll plaza and GPS data, call detail records, police duty rosters and PCR/wireless logs. It also demanded an independent probe by a special investigation team.
The incident triggered a protest outside the Pinjore police station , led by Panchkula Congress president and former Kalka MLA Pardeep Chaudhary and senior party leader Vijay Bansal. The party questioned the basis for stopping the councillors.
Haryana Police refuted the detention claims. Panchkula assistant commissioner of police Ram Kumar said the police had received information that the councillors were missing and were trying to ascertain their whereabouts. The police had no role in detaining them, he said, adding that they were believed to be in the Ambala or Shahabad area.
The 35-member Tijara municipal council requires 18 votes for a majority. Following the standoff and the councillors’ failure to arrive on schedule, local authorities postponed the chairperson’s election.
The election was subsequently postponed.
The group, comprising 19 independent councillors and one Congress councillor, had been housed at a resort near Shimla to prevent poaching. They left for Tijara around 8pm to reach the town in time for the crucial voting.
A complaint filed by Congress election in charge Abhay Kumar Saini and independent councillor Shammudayal Saini alleged armed men, accompanied by Haryana Police personnel, stopped the convoy near the Chandimandir-Pinjore area of Panchkula around 10.45pm.
The complaint further alleged that unidentified people took control of the councillors, their families and minor children, restricted their movement and cut off communication. It sought the registration of an FIR and the preservation of CCTV footage, toll plaza and GPS data, call detail records, police duty rosters and PCR/wireless logs. It also demanded an independent probe by a special investigation team.
The incident triggered a protest outside the Pinjore police station , led by Panchkula Congress president and former Kalka MLA Pardeep Chaudhary and senior party leader Vijay Bansal. The party questioned the basis for stopping the councillors.
Haryana Police refuted the detention claims. Panchkula assistant commissioner of police Ram Kumar said the police had received information that the councillors were missing and were trying to ascertain their whereabouts. The police had no role in detaining them, he said, adding that they were believed to be in the Ambala or Shahabad area.
The 35-member Tijara municipal council requires 18 votes for a majority. Following the standoff and the councillors’ failure to arrive on schedule, local authorities postponed the chairperson’s election.
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