Journalist Attacked on National Press Day; RSS Leader’s Son Killed

On India's National Press Day, 16 Nov, a journalist in Panjab Ranjit Singh Gill was attacked by goons who had the support of a ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative (MLA) Assembly Baljit Kaur. Ranjit was on his way from Malout, Muktsar when he spotted trollies with paddy on the road. Since paddy procurement has been stopped in small grain markets, Ranjit was curious where the trollies were headed. The trollies stopped at Theri village's Fakarsar grain market. A commission agent Rana (no second name) threatened Ranjit. The laborers in the grain market beat him up; Rana even pulled a pistol on him. After which Ranjit escaped and reached a hospital but for at least four hours neither the police nor administration came to enquire about him. Later, the police threatened Ranjit to withdraw the case, else they would charge him with a case of abuse of the marginalized caste—Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Indian National Congress MLA Pargat Singh and other opposition leaders have condemned the attack. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Naveen Arora, son of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Baldev Raj Arora, was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants on 15 Nov in Ferozepur when he was walking home from his shop. On 16 Nov, Panjab Bharatiya Janata Party chief Sunil Jakhar said Naveen’s murder has once again exposed the AAP government’s failure to maintain law and order in the state. He said, 'People of Panjab are being forced to live in an atmosphere of fear.' Panjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma said, 'A spree of murders and crimes targeting businessmen, athletes, youth, and common people raises serious questions about the incompetent working style of the Panjab government.' On 17 Nov, a newly-formed pro-Khalistan group, the Sher-e-Punjab Brigade, claimed responsibility for the murder. The letter is signed in the name of Paramjit Singh and issued by spokesperson Bahadur Singh Sandhu. A police officer (name withheld) said the authenticity of the letter was yet to be verified. The police have not yet identified a motive for the killing (earlier coverage).