Vikram Kumar of AAP attempts to throw shoe towards Badal

Ludhiana, August 16, 2014: On August 15, one Vikram Kumar r/o Dhanaula, district Barnala, Convenor of the Dhanaula Committee of the Aam Adami Party (AAP), attempted to throw a shoe towards the stage from where the Chief Minister, Punjab was to address the yearly state level function being held at village Issru to commemorate the martyrdom of Shaheed Karnail Singh Issru. Vikram Kumar was sitting in the first enclosure beyond the ‘D’ at a distance of about 60 feet from the stage. He threw the shoe over the railing of the enclosure so that it landed in the ‘D’ area about 40 feet from the stage. The police personnel present in the enclosure arrested Vikram Kumar and took him in preventive custody.
G.S.Dhillon, DIG, Ludhiana Range said that examination of the matter has revealed that Vikram Kumar and one Mahinderpal Singh r/o village Dangarh, district Barnala, another activist of the AAP had planned to do such an act in the vicinity of the Chief Minister, Punjab as and when they got any opportunity. They learnt that the Chief Minister would be present at the yearly state level function at village Issru on August 15 and roped in two other activists of the AAP into their conspiracy. The following four persons who had conspired to commit this act, and, planned to do similar acts in future as well, have been arrested and detained under preventive sections of the law:
(i)    Vikram Kumar @ Babbi s/o Hamir  Singh r/o Dhanaula, district Barnala– Convenor of the Dhanaula Committee of the Aam Adami Party (AAP)
(ii)    Mahinderpal Singh s/o Hardial Singh r/o village Dangarh, PS Dhanaula, district Barnala
(iii)    Harvinder Singh @ Hindi s/o Surjit Singh r/o Kothe Gobindpur, PS  Dhanaula, district Barnala
(iv)    Hardeep Singh s/o Bhora Singh r/o village Chhana, PS Dhanaula, district Barnala
The DIG/Range informed that on August 14, Vikram Kumar went to recce the spot at village Issru on the motorcycle of one Gagan Singh r/o Barnala town. He did not tell Gagan Singh about his plans. As such, Gagan Singh has not been proceeded against by the police. Vikram Kumar saw the police arrangements at village Issru and discussed with his other three associates that it was not possible to reach the proximity of the Chief Minister. They decided to do this act in the pandal area, anywhere in the vicinity of the ‘D’, since their motive of getting publicity would be achieved. He further said that preliminary investigations and examination of arrested persons have revealed that Vikram Kumar @ Babbi was the Convenor of the Aam Adami Party (AAP) in Dhanaula, and, in the run-up to the 2014 Parliament Elections, had collected a sum of Rs.1.25 lakhs as donations from the public. He wanted to collect more funds and was also keen on advancement within the party. He wanted to get publicity and mileage in the print, electronic and social media (Whatsapp, Facebook etc.) and had planned to highlight the incident to derive maximum mileage, so as to collect donations and funds.
 He said that the questioning of arrested persons has revealed that they had conspired that Vikram Kumar @ Babbi would hurl the shoe in the pandal, and, a video of the incident would be made by Mahinderpal Singh by using mobile phone. This video was to be uploaded over Youtube, Whatsapp, Facebook and other social networking sites for maximum publicity. Before execution of the conspiracy, a short video was made by Vikram Kumar @ Babbi on the mobile phone of Mahinderpal Singh justifying the acts he was about to commit.
He revealed that on pursuance of the conspiracy, Vikram Kumar @ Babbi, Mahinderpal Singh, Harvinder Singh @ Hindi and Hardeep Singh came to the venue of the function in gray-colour Duster car No. PB-03 AB(T) 4736 and parked the vehicle in the general parking area. Vikram Kumar @ Babbi and Mahinderpal Singh entered through the public entry gate – it being a public function, all citizens were invited. Harvinder Singh @ Hindi and Hardeep Singh stayed outside as back-up. Vikram Kumar @ Babbi  and Mahinderpal Singh first sat in the second enclosure from the ‘D’, since entry to the first enclosure was through invitation passes.  However, the organizers shifted several persons from the second to the first enclosure. Vikram Kumar and Mahinderpal Singh went with them to the first enclosure touching the ‘D’. At about 2.05 pm when the function was on the verge of ending, Vikram Kumar @ Babbi stood-up, took-off and threw his shoe towards the stage which fell across the railing of the enclosure into the ‘D’ area at a distance of about 40 feet from the stage. The act of hurling the shoe was filmed by Mahinderpal Singh using his mobile phone. Vikram Kumar @ Babbi was immediately taken into preventive custody. While being taken to the police station, Vikram Kumar grappled with the police personnel. In this regard, a complaint of the concerned police official(s) is being examined by the SSP for necessary legal action. Mahinderpal Singh, Harvinder Singh @ Hindi and Hardeep Singh went away from the spot. Using the phone of Harvinder Singh @ Hindi, they spoke to Sh. Bhagwant Mann, MP (Aam Adami Party) and updated him about the incident. They went to village Jarag and met Sh. Bhagwant Mann. After the meeting, they went to Malerkotla.
He said that Mahinderpal Singh, Harvinder Singh @ Hindi and Hardeep Singh were taken into preventive custody on August 16, 2014. Two video footages have been recovered from Mahinderpal Singh. The first footage was made by Mahinderpal Singh in which Vikram Kumar speaks justifying the act. The video recording was done prior to their going to village Issru but in a manner to show as if it has been made after the incident since Vikram Kumar uses the past tense in the video clip stating that he has already committed the act. The second footage is of 9 seconds.  In the footage Vikram Kumar is seen throwing a shoe towards the stage and is nabbed by the security personnel while trying to remove and throw his other shoe. The two video footages show the pre-meditated designs of the arrested AAP activists and the SSP has been directed to go into the depth of the matter.
He said that instructions have been given to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Khanna to examine all the facts of the incident and submit a detailed report on the culpability of all the concerned persons, for necessary action.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP President Kamal Sharma has strongly condemmed the incident regarding throwing of a shoe at Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, according to a release issued by BJP Punjab this evening at Chandigarh.