Patiala, December 6 — The Patiala police have registered six FIRs following reports of nomination papers being snatched or torn during the run-up to the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, officials said Friday.
The cases come after Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal released an audio clip allegedly featuring Patiala SSP Varun Sharma discussing ways to “block Opposition candidates from filing nominations.” The Tribune could not independently verify the recording.
One FIR involves an “unidentified person” caught on camera snatching papers from a woman SAD candidate in Ghanaur. “The accused was seen fleeing with the papers, but police have registered him as unidentified,” said Akali Dal leader Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer. He claimed the man was an AAP worker photographed earlier with Ghanaur legislator Gurlal Singh. Repeated attempts to reach the legislator were unsuccessful.
Of the six FIRs, two were filed at Samana City police station, and one each at Ghanaur, Julkan, Nabha, and Patiala’s Tripuri. Only two accused have been identified so far.
