Balwinder Singh, a Sikh man whose turban was allegedly removed by the police and later arrested during a recent protest rally, arrives to appear in court in Howrah district on Sunday, October 11, 2020. However, the police He argued that the man was carrying a firearm and that his helmet “had automatically fallen off in the ensuing skirmish.” (PTI)
Calcutta: Mamata Banerjee’s government complained on Sunday of a “communal twist” in the BJP’s complaint of religious insult to one of its leader’s Sikh bodyguards: Balwinder Singh, whose turban was allegedly removed when police personnel accused him with lathi prior to his arrest with a weapon in Howrah during “Nabanna Abhijan” on October 8.
The state Department of the Interior tweeted: “Our Sikh brothers and sisters live here in West Bengal in perfect peace and harmony, in happiness and tranquility, with respect from all of us for their faith and practices. A recent incident when an isolated individual was caught with a firearm carried illegally amidst agitators in an agitation that was not authorized is now twisted out of context, distorted and given communal colors in rebel and partisan interest. “
He added: “A political party is giving common color to the issue with narrow partisan interest in a way that Bengal does not believe in. The surveillance was done according to the law, but the highest respect for the panth Sikh and the ways of GOWB is affirmed. “.
The state government’s statement came a day after members of the Sikh community held citywide protest rallies demanding an explanation and apology from the state police as the BJP continues to pressure the ruling Trinamul Congress for the dispute, although state police previously claimed “El Pagri had automatically fallen into the ensuing melee, without our officer trying.”
Balwinder (43), from Bhatinda in Punjab who previously served in the 6th Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) of the Indian Army and National Security Guard, is the personal security officer of BJP leader Priyanshu Pandey. He was arrested by the police after a pistol from his possession was recovered during the rally.
The weapons license was issued by the Rajouri District Magistrate in Jammu and Kashmir, but his permit is restricted to Rajouri only although the license has been renewed until 2021, police said.
Balwinder was held in custody by Howrah Court in police custody for three days initially. The court extended his pretrial detention for a further eight days after his presentation on Sunday.
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