TARN TARAN: With three days to go for the November 11 bypoll, EC on Saturday suspended Tarn Taran SSP Dr Ravjot Kaur Grewal following a complaint filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal against “illegal detention” of Akali members, allegedly at the instance of the officer.Amritsar police commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has been given additional charge as SSP. EC has directed Punjab’s chief electoral officer to immediately send a compliance report.Badal expressed gratitude to the election observer for acting promptly on SAD’s complaint and “reporting the matter forcefully” to EC. In a post on X, Badal alleged Grewal was vitiating the election atmosphere by “acting as a polling agent” of governing AAP. “She was resorting to registration of false cases against Akali members and its workers and brazenly subjecting them to illegal detention and intimidation.”Calling Grewal’s action “criminally partisan”, he said it should be investigated and disciplinary action, including dismissal from service, must be taken.AICC secretary and former education minister Pargat Singh welcomed EC’s decision to suspend Grewal, calling it a “good decision albeit late”. He urged EC to ensure the bypoll was conducted in a free, fair, and intimidation-free manner.
