FEROZEPUR, Dec 12 — Punjab Police arrested gangster-turned-politician Gurpreet Singh Sekhon late Thursday under Section 107/151 of the CrPC, saying the preventive action was taken to maintain law and order ahead of local polls.
Sekhon was detained at night and taken to Kulgarhi police station, officials said. “He was arrested due to preventive measures along with his two accomplices,” DSP (Rural) Karan Sharma told The Tribune. “He will be produced in the SDM court today for further proceedings.”
By Friday morning, hundreds of Sekhon’s supporters gathered outside the police station and blocked the Ferozepur–Ludhiana highway (NH-5), demanding his release. Protesters accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of using the police to intimidate political opponents.
“We are getting tremendous support in the Zila Parishad polls, and the AAP leadership has now resorted to using police force to browbeat us,” said Advocate Arshdeep Singh, a member of Sekhon’s team. He said the group would continue campaigning, adding, “The public support is with us.”
Former MLA and SAD district president Joginder Singh Jindu called the arrest “the height of anarchy,” alleging that “the local AAP MLA has accepted his defeat and taken this step under frustration.”
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is backing two Independent candidates from Sekhon’s family in the Ferozeshah and Bazidpur zones of the Zila Parishad polls. Sekhon had earlier announced plans to contest the 2027 Assembly elections.
Police later assured protesters that “no injustice would be done,” after which the highway blockade was lifted.
