CPI(ML) condemns the brutal attack on its Punjab State Secretary Comrade Gurmeet Singh Bakhatpura in Kalanaur village of Gurdaspur district when he resisted attempts of booth capturing by Congress party goons. Today polling is going on in Punjab for the Panchayat elections.

Comrade Gurmeet Singh rushed to Kalanaur village in the morning of Dec.30 2018 when he received information of booth capturing by the ruling Congress party’s candidate Nirmal Singh and his supporters. Comrade Aman Singh of CPI(ML) who is also one of the contestants from this Panchayat, informed Comrade Gurmeet of the polling booth been captured. Comrade Gurmeet Singh went to the spot where he was attacked by goons. He has received multiple injuries with his left leg seriously fractured and is now hospitalised.

The ruling Congress party members had forcibly prevented many candidates of CPI(ML) from filing nomination papers earlier. CPI(ML) Politburo member Prabhat Kumar has said that this attack has once again exposed the reality of Panchayati Raj institutions been made ineffective by the Congress party and its government led by Amarinder Singh in Punjab.

CPI(ML) has demanded immediate arrests of the culprits who perpetrated this crime in front of heavy police presence, and repoll in all such affected booths.

Senior party leader and member of the Central Committee will be reaching Gurdaspur to take stock of the situation.

-- Central Committee, CPI(ML)

New Delhi