Chandigarh: Punjab Panchayat elections were marred by violent episodes and criminal influences, raising concerns over fairness and safety.
The recently concluded Panchayat elections in Punjab on October 15, 2024, revealed a slew of unusual incidents, violent clashes, and criminal elements influencing the poll outcomes. From teachers becoming targets of mob violence to a notorious gangster’s father being elected as a Sarpanch, the elections have been far from ordinary.
As the counting of votes began late Tuesday, tensions quickly escalated in several districts across Punjab. Teachers deployed on poll duty became the victims of violence, with disturbing videos surfacing, showing polling staff hiding under tables, pleading for rescue, and sending out distress calls as chaotic mobs disrupted the election process.
In districts such as Ludhiana, Mansa, and Patiala, teachers alleged that they were left to fend for themselves without adequate security. Many were attacked with stones, and some even sustained injuries while trying to complete their duties amidst the chaos. A teacher from Mansa, who suffered a head injury requiring three stitches, recounted his ordeal. He described how his bus was ambushed by a violent mob pelting stones, breaking all the bus windows as they attempted to leave the counting centre.
“I am the only son of my parents, and had I lost my life during this duty, who would have taken care of my elderly parents?” he said.
Videos from Ludhiana’s Dakha village showed polling staff hiding under tables as gunfire erupted outside.
In one of the videos, a teacher could be heard saying, “We are all lying on the floor. Many shots have been fired.”
In Patiala’s Shergarh village, polling was delayed till midnight, and female teachers posted over 100 kilometers from their homes found themselves on unsafe roads late into the night.
Despite the violence, state election commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary defended the decision to hold counting at polling booths instead of block-level centres, as had been requested by teacher unions. He argued that district officials were responsible for maintaining law and order.
In a shocking twist, Jagtar Singh Dhillon, father of Rajveer Singh alias Ravi Rajgarh, a notorious member of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang, was elected as Sarpanch of their native Rajgarh village in Ludhiana district. Ravi Rajgarh, who has at least 12 FIRs registered against him, including charges of murder and attempt to murder, was present in the village on polling day as he is currently out on bail.
Jagtar Singh Dhillon himself has a criminal history, having been involved in multiple cases, including a murder charge for which he was jailed but later acquitted. His rival, Baljinder Singh, contested against Dhillon and claimed that he received indirect threats before the election, warning him not to run for the post of Sarpanch.
“I was told things like ‘nuksaan ho jauga tera (you will be harmed)’ and ‘khadhna nahi chahida sa (you should not have contested),’ but I was determined to contest,” Baljinder shared with the media.
Baljinder had been a key witness in a 2011 murder case in which Dhillon Ravi Rajgarh, were accused of killing his friend Jagwinder Singh. Though Dhillon was acquitted, Baljinder lamented the election result, expressing disappointment that it appeared to justify the brutal murder of his friend. However, Dhillon, after his victory, promised to prioritise the development of the village, including addressing the issue of sewage disposal.
Coin toss in Pathankot decides Sarpanch winner
In another bizarre episode during the elections, the Sarpanch was chosen by a coin toss in Pathankot’s Baadh Sudhal village after two candidates, Asha Devi and Meena Devi, ended up with the same number of votes. In accordance with election rules, a coin was flipped to determine the winner, and Meena Devi emerged as the new Sarpanch.
The Pathankot district witnessed 79.2% voter turnout, and while most villages saw a clear winner, this unprecedented event added an element of surprise to the election outcome.
Sabotage in Sunam: agent chews ballot papers
A dramatic attempt to sabotage the election outcome occurred in Sunam, near Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s native village of Satauj. In the village of Tolawal, a polling agent was caught chewing up three ballot papers in a desperate effort to prevent his candidate from losing by a single vote. The incident left polling officials shocked, and despite the chaos, the rightful winner was declared. Police were notified, but no arrest had been made as of the time of the report.
The violence during the elections was not limited to attacks on polling staff. In Jagraon’s Mallah village, an argument broke out between a losing candidate and the presiding officer over the results. The candidate, Amardeep Kaur, who lost the election, demanded that the officials reveal the names of voters who had cast ballots for the winning candidate. Frustrated, she and her supporters attacked the polling officials, injuring a police officer in the process.
A case was registered at Hathur police station against Amardeep and her associates. Despite these clashes, the election results were declared, and the violence is under investigation by the authorities.
Pawan Kumar, press secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), Punjab, expressed his frustration, calling the election one of the most violent in recent memory. He condemned the administration for failing to protect polling staff and allowing such violence to unfold.
The Panchayat elections in Punjab, though concluded, have left many questioning the fairness of the process and the state’s ability to maintain law and order. From violent attacks on teachers to the election of individuals with criminal records, the polls have been fraught with controversy. While the state election commissioner and local authorities attempt to downplay the incidents, the scars left on polling staff and the general public paint a starkly different picture of the 2024 Panchayat elections in Punjab.