Gurpreet Singh :- Tension gripped parts of Bathinda after the arrest of Hindu Mahasangh national president Sandeep Pathak triggered protests by lawyers and several Hindu organisations across the city. Demonstrators strongly condemned the police action and announced a strike in protest against the arrest.
The controversy intensified after Civil Lines police produced Pathak before a local court and sought a three-day police remand for further investigation. Following lengthy arguments between the prosecution and defence counsel, the court granted the police a one-day remand instead of the three days requested.
According to officials, a case had been registered against Pathak on May 20 by the Civil Lines police station. He was arrested over allegations linked to the leakage of sensitive documents, a charge that has now sparked political and legal reactions in the region.
The arrest has led to growing unrest among supporters, while members of the legal fraternity have questioned the manner in which the police carried out the action. Security has also been tightened in parts of the city to prevent any untoward incident amid the ongoing protests.
