AAP Punjab MLA flees arrest as bullets, stones fly

It is not everyday that a lawmaker attempts to flee from the police, controlled by a government run by his own party, covered by a hail of bullets and stones hurled by his supporters, before almost running over a policeman in his successful dash to freedom, but not before making a defiant declaration on social media.

- Karam Prakash and Bhavey Nagpal

Yet, all these seemingly improbable things came together in a dramatic turn of events in Haryana's Karnal district on Tuesday morning, when the Punjab Police attempted to arrest the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Sanaur, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, from the house of a relative.

Pathanmajra, 50, successfully fled from his relative and Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (HSGMC) member Gurnam Singh Laddi's house at Dabri village in Karnal early on Tuesday, minutes after a Punjab Police team arrived to arrest him in connection with a rape case.

"We had arrested Pathanmajra when villagers and some miscreants started pelting stones and opened fire at the police team. Taking advantage of the commotion, the AAP MLA fled from the spot," said Patiala crime investigation agency (CIA) in-charge Pradeep Bajwa.

Bajwa said the police team managed to arrest the MLA's alleged accomplice, Balwinder Singh, and said that three weapons were recovered from him. A Toyota Fortuner, owned by one of the MLA's aides, was also impounded.

"Efforts are on to arrest MLA Pathanmajra, who is on the run," Bajwa said.

A police personnel was injured when the vehicle in which the MLA allegedly escaped tried to run him over, Bajwa said, adding the injured cop was under treatment and stable.

Punjab AAP leader Baltej Pannu said, "The woman had filed a complaint against Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra last week. Following this, the MLA contacted senior party leaders (for help). However, the party leaders refused to help him...