P&H High Court directs AAP government to ensure protection of MP Harbhajan Singh after security withdrawal

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Punjab government to ensure protection of cricketer and Member of Parliament (MP) Harbhajan Singh and his family while they are in Punjab.

Justice Jagmohan Bansal issued notice on Singh's petition alleging that Punjab Police recently withdrew his security without any fresh threat assessment.

The Court listed the matter for hearing on May 12.

"In the meantime, the respondent shall ensure that no physical injury is caused to petitioner or his family members while they are in the State of Punjab," it directed.

Singh's security was withdrawn by Punjab Police recently, soon after he along with six other MPs of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In his petition before the High Court, Singh alleged that following withdrawal of his security, a protest was held by AAP workers outside his residence in Jalandhar. He added that the police remained a mute spectator while his house was "attacked by the mobsters".

He further said the security was withdrawn in "a very vindictive manner" on the instructions of the local political regime of AAP without making any proper assessment of his threat perception.

"It is relevant to mention here that the official respondents did not even leave a single police personnel in the security of the petitioner and his family members, and took out the complete security cover, leaving the security of the family of the petitioner vulnerable," his plea said.