In a dramatic development that has sent political shockwaves through Punjab, the Ludhiana police have arrested a prominent Congress party functionary on serious charges, including an alleged attempt to murder a municipal corporation employee. The arrest, made on Saturday, has immediately sparked a fierce political row, with the opposition Congress accusing the state's governing party of orchestrating a vendetta in the lead-up to the crucial 2027 elections.
The Arrest and the Accusations
The individual at the center of the storm is Inderjit Singh Indi, a close aide to former Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and the husband of a local councillor. The arrest followed a confrontation with a worker from the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation's horticulture department. The case is based on a complaint filed by the city's joint municipal commissioner.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Ajay Kumar, the horticulture circle in-charge at Rose Garden, was on duty when Indi arrived in his vehicle and began hurling verbal abuse at him. When Kumar objected to the abusive language, the complaint alleges that Indi physically assaulted him. A junior engineer, Kirpal Singh, reportedly intervened to rescue the municipal worker from the attack.
Confirming the arrest, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma stated that Indi has been charged with obstructing a public servant from performing his duties. However, the more severe charges have been invoked under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Authorities have applied several sections, most notably BNS 109, which pertains to attempt to murder. Other charges include assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal intimidation.
Political Backlash and Claims of Vendetta
The Congress party has swiftly closed ranks around Indi, vehemently denouncing the arrest as a politically motivated act. Party leaders have dismissed the "attempt to murder" charge as a "baseless" exaggeration engineered by the ruling side to target and silence the opposition.
Former state minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu launched a strong counterattack, questioning the severity of the charges. He pointed to the apparent lack of visible injuries on the complainant, Ajay Kumar. "The Ludhiana cops, at the behest of the state's governing party, are targeting Congress members," Ashu claimed. He demanded transparency, stating, "We want to see the medical report. The complainant is giving interviews and appears completely fine."
Former senior deputy mayor Sham Sunder Malhotra provided context for Indi's presence at the scene. He defended Indi, explaining that the Congress functionary had been requesting the horticulture department for days to prune overgrown trees in his ward, but no action was taken. "When work is not being done, the people approach the councillor's office," Malhotra stated, framing the incident as a result of public grievance over civic negligence rather than a criminal act.
Election Season Tensions Rise
This incident is set against the tense backdrop of escalating political rivalry in Punjab, with all parties already gearing up for the 2027 state assembly elections. The arrest of a key Congress aide is being viewed through this prism, transforming a local law-and-order issue into a significant political flashpoint.
The Congress's allegation of a "political vendetta" aims to galvanize its support base and paint the state government as one that uses police machinery to harass opponents. Conversely, the police's invocation of serious charges under the new BNS demonstrates a firm stance against alleged attacks on public servants. The situation remains volatile, with the potential to influence public perception and political narratives in Ludhiana and beyond as the election cycle draws nearer.
