Protests, arrests: Ludhiana’s Bains brothers back with bang

Independent members of legislative assembly (MLA) Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains have been known for their arrests over protests on different issues.

Simarjit Bains was once again arrested on Monday following a protest against suspension of a news channel from a cable network.  In the past, Bains brothers have organised many protests against sand mafia, illegal mining, alleged corruption in government departments and hospitals for fleecing poor people. 

Protest over news channel blackout: MLA Bains, 15 supporters held in Ludhiana

Sand mafia

On April 11, police had arrested Bains brothers, along with their supporters, when they were going to make a human chain against the sand mafia in Ludhiana. 

On April 17, 2015, Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains were arrested for launching a ‘satyagraha’ (agitation) against the sand mafia in Chuharwal village, 17 km from Ludhiana. 

The independent MLAs and their supporters loaded 10 tractor-trailers with sand to expose the modus operandi of the sand mafia. They wanted to show how the mafia excavated sand from the river and sold it in the market. They had also planned to provide sand to the area residents free-of-cost. 

Hurting public servant

On October 21, Bains brothers were arrested for hurting public servant and obstructing discharge of government duty. They were produced in the court a day after. They were booked under Sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to public servants), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant from discharge of public functions) and 188 (disobedience to orders promulgated by public servant) and 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the IPC. They got bail on October 24 from central jail in Ludhiana. 

Precautionary detention

Surprisingly, Bains brothers were re-arrested on October 24 and police sent them to jail on judicial remand under Sections 107/151 (precautionary detention) of the CrPC. 

On November 2, they were released from jail after interference of the local court. Bains brothers have time and again staged protests at different city hospitals against alleged fleecing of patients. 

Balwinder Bains said their crusade against corruption and mafia in Punjab would continue.