CHANDIGARH: AAP’s rebel legislator from Sanour, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, has alleged that he narrowly escaped an attempt by Punjab Police to kill him in a staged encounter during a raid at his relatives’ house in Karnal, Haryana.
In a video message posted on Instagram from an undisclosed location, Pathanmajra claimed he had prior information that he would be eliminated in a “fake encounter.” He said a police team led by encounter specialist Bikramjit Singh Brar, along with senior officers including SPs, DSPs and several SHOs, surrounded the house. “I managed to dodge them and escape by scaling a wall, ” he said.
Pathanmajra is facing a rape case registered against him on September 1, shortly after he levelled allegations against the top leadership of his party. His security cover was also withdrawn the same day. During the raid in Karnal, police seized his Fortuner SUV and claimed to have recovered three pistols. One of his associates, Balwinder Singh, was taken into custody.
The MLA, however, refuted the police version that he clashed with the raiding party or had been formally arrested before fleeing. “I gave them a slip after engaging them in dialogue. I have specific information that police wanted to kill me, ” he said.
Pathanmajra, who recently revolted against the AAP leadership, has accused Delhi leaders of interfering in Punjab’s governance and blamed them for mishandling the flood crisis. Without naming Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia, he alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was functioning as a “puppet” in their hands. He warned that AAP would not be able to win the 2027 elections if Delhi leaders continued to control the state government.
He also launched a fresh attack on Krishan Kumar, Principal Secretary of Irrigation and Drainage, holding him responsible for floods in Punjab. Pathanmajra alleged Kumar misled the Chief Minister and did not allow farmers to desilt the Ghaggar bridge to build protective embankments. “In this hour of crisis, I will stand by my people facing floods, ” the MLA declared.