Pathankot: Former Congress MLA from Bhoa assembly constituency Joginder Pal has been arrested in a case of alleged illegal mining on Friday. Pal along with another four persons, including his wife, was wanted in a case of illegal mining by the Pathankot police.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has termed the arrest as "arbitrary".
During the recently-concluded assembly elections, Pal lost to AAP candidate Lal Chand. Shohrat Mann, Taragarh police station SHO, confirmed that police arrested former MLA Joginder Pal in a case of illegal mining. He said a case was registered against five persons, including Joginder Pal, his wife Krishna Devi, his partner Lakshay, and two OTHERS under Section 21 of the Mining and Minerals Act on June 8 at Taragarh police station. "We have arrested Joginder Pal while the rest of the accused are absconding," the SHO said, adding that Pal would be produced in court on Saturday.
Officials of the mining department along with police had raided Meharn Kalan village where illegal mining was being carried out allegedly by Krishna Stone Crusher, which is purportedly owned by Pal. Mining machinery, including excavators, JCB, , etc, was seized in the raid. The drivers, Sunil Kumar and Parkash, absconded from the spot.
