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 Jalandhar, Punjab (KP) – Long gone are the days when the word Akali stood for a pious and selfless soldier of Guru Gobind Singh Ji who lived and died for righteousness. An Akali from today presents a completely different picture. Modern 'Akalis', or politicians associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal are known not for their piety and valor, but being alcoholics, womanizers, and drug dealers. In fact, many of them are not even Sikhs or kesadharis.
This past week, a senior member of Shiromani Akali Dal (B) was arrested from the outskirts of the Raja sansi Airport in Sri Amritsar Sahib with a supply of 22.5 kgs of heroin. The arrested, Purshotam LalSondhi, is the General Secretary of the party’s youth wing. He was arrested after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) receivedan anonymous tip.
The increasing supply of intoxicants and drugs in Punjab has been a problem for some time now. This issue has affected the youth of Punjab the most and the Government itself, instead of doing anything to stop it, is promoting the drug abuse. When or if any solution to this problem will surface remains a question.
| "Akali Dal (Amritsar)...will be honoring the officials of the DRI for arresting Sondhi despite ... (the) severe political pressure. " |
The heroin from the Akali, estimated value Rs. 22 Crore in International Markets, was found after the Police stopped Sondhi’s Tata Indica caron Airport Road to conduct a random search and found several imported suitcases in the back. The suitcases were full of women's clothing, butafter a quick search, the police recovered four packets containing the controlled substance. During the search, Sondhi identified himself as a senior member of the Akali Dal (B) and the Jalandhar Valmiki Sabha.
The Police conducted further raids after gaining vital information from Sondhi during interrogations. The house of a person named Bittu Atwal was also searched by the Police but no intoxicants were found. Police however did recover clothing of a similar style in abundance at the Atwal residence. Atwal was not present at his house during the raid and his whereabouts are still unknown to the police. Police also conducted raids at Sondhi’s residence and markets but found them closed.
Almost all rival parties of Akali Dal (B) have taken the chance to make statements towards the President for showing a lack of responsibility when choosing party officials. Bhai Ram Singh of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)announced that his party will be honoring the officials of the DRI for arresting Sondhi despite there being severe political pressure supporting Sondhi. Bhai Ram Singh held that the arrest of Sondhi was just the beginning, a larger network of such Government organized crime had yet to be exposed.
When questioned, Sukhbir Badal denounced any knowledge of Sondhi’sbackground. Sources, on condition of anonymity, held that Sondhi was appointed at his post after he bribed the superior Akali Dal leadership with huge sums of money. He is also believed to be a close associate of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal. Sondhi had introduced himself as a non-resident Indian during his appointment and he used to makef requent trips to overseas countries for business matters.
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