Punjab Cops Punched Me, Didn't Allow My Son To Wear Turban Before Arresting Him: Bagga's Father

Tajinder Bagga Arrest: Preetpal Singh lodged an FIR with Delhi Police, claiming that a group of 10-15 Punjab Police personnel broke into their Janakpuri home.

Delhi BJP leader Tajinderpal Singh Bagga after his arrest by Punjab Police on Friday

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Amid high political drama over Tajinder Bagga's arrest on Friday, the BJP leader's father Preetpal Singh alleged that Punjab Police personnel punched him in the face and did not even allow his son to wear his turban before taking him.

Preetpal Singh lodged an FIR with Delhi Police, claiming that a group of 10-15 Punjab Police personnel broke into their Janakpuri home, PTI reported. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta accompanied Singh when he went to file the FIR at Janakpuri Police Station.

Narrating the sequence of events, Singh said the family had finished their breakfast when two Punjab Polcie personnel came at their home. 

"We offered them tea and they behaved and talked calmly and Tajinder was sitting there. A few minutes later, 10-15 Punjab Police personnel broke in. They dragged Tajinder out and did not allow him to cover his head," PTI quoted Singh as saying.

READ | Tajinder Bagga Arrest: Delhi Police Register Kidnapping Case

Singh also alleged that when he tried to make a video of the incident, his mobile phone was snatched and he was punched in the face and forced to sit down.

Speaking to reporters, Adesh Gupta a complaint was lodged against Punjab Police for allegedly beating Bagga's father. He claimed that Bagga's father was beaten and gagged.

"The action against Bagga is shameful. Kejriwal got Punjab Police to beat, misbehave with and gag an elderly person. Punjab Police indulged in hooliganism and did not allow a Sikh to put on his turban," Gupta said in a tweet.

On Friday morning, Punjab Police arrested Bagga for allegedly making provocative statements against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the AAP leader's remarks on the film "The Kashmir Files". 

A case was registered against Bagga last month on charges of making provocative statements, promoting enmity and criminal intimidation.

The FIR referred to Bagga's remarks on March 30, when he was part of a BJP youth wing protest outside Arvind Kejriwal's residence in Delhi.

Punjab Police claimed that Bagga, who is also national secretary of the Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha, did not join the investigation despite being served five notices.

BJP Launches Scathing Attack On AAP

Following the arrest, the BJP launched a no holds barred attack on the AAP. Several BJP workers also gathered outside a police station and protested against the Punjab police's action.

Among the first to react was BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. "Have spoken with Tajinder Bagga’s mother. Assured her that entire organisation is with them in this hour of oppression. BJYM will do everything in our capacity to bring Bagga back to safety and liberty. We will fight back! Arvind Kejriwal, you have messed with the wrong guys," Surya tweeted.

BJP national general secretary BL Santosh, Punjab Police was being used as personal mafia of Arvind Kejriwal. "We condemn the arrest of Tajinder Bagga and assault on his father by police at the insistence of Aam Aadmi Party. Soon karma will catch you," Santosh tweeted.

"Arvind Kejriwal’s brazen misuse of Punjab police to target political opponents is not unexpected. He had been raging for this. But this won’t go down well. We will fight to secure every single karyakarta of ours and ensure that Kejriwal learns how to handle power the hard way," BJP social media head Amit Malviya tweeted.