DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Chandigarh Hours after being quizzed over his "50 bombs have reached Punjab" claim, police on Sunday booked Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on charges of giving misleading information that endangers country's sovereignty and unity. The case was registered against Bajwa at Cyber Crime police station in Mohali under sections 197(1)(d) (false and misleading information that endangers country's sovereignty and unity) and 353(2) (false statements intend to create enmity and hatred or ill will) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sources said.

Earlier in the day, a two-member team of Punjab Police reached the residence of Bajwa and questioned him over his claims even as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked the Congress leader to reveal the source of his information, questioning if he "had direct links with Pakistan".

Sticking to his statement, Bajwa said he cooperated with the police team but refused to divulge his sources.

The Congress accused the AAP government of trying to "intimidate him out of sheer political vendetta" and asked it not to divert the public attention from the "serious threat that has been posed to peace and harmony in Punjab". Bajwa said, "It is deeply unfortunate that Mann is running the government not with the intent to serve the people of Punjab but to carry out personal vendettas. Today's events stand as clear testimony to the AAP government's misuse of power." Earlier, Mann lashed out at Bajwa over his claims, saying neither Punjab Police Intelligence nor a Central intelligence agency has shared any such information.

The chief minister said strict action will be taken if Bajwa's statement was meant only to "create panic". In an interview to a private television channel, Bajwa claimed, "I have come to know that 50 bombs have reached Punjab. Of this, 18 have exploded, 32 are yet to go off." The Qadian MLA's claims came amid several grenade attacks in the state in recent months.

A team of Punjab Police comprising Assistant Inspector General of Police Ravjot Kaur Grewal and Mohali Superintendent of Police (City) Harbir Atwal on Sunday visited the residence of Bajwa and questioned the source of his statement. AIG Grewal, speaking to reporters outside Bajwa's residence, said the police team arrived to find the source of Bajwa's information since it was a matter of national security. "Bajwa did not disclose any source or origin of this information... So far, he has not given any input useful to us," she said. Meanwhile, in a video message on Sunday, Mann said, "I want to ask Bajwa how did you get this information.

Do you have a direct link with Pakistan? Did terrorists or any agency in Pakistan call you up and share the information that 50 bombs have reached, 18 have exploded and 32 are remaining?" "What is the source of your information? Neither Punjab intelligence nor any intelligence in the country has shared such information. Then how could you say that 18 bombs have exploded and 32 are yet to go off. It means somewhere you have direct links with Pakistan," said Mann.

(editor@dailyworld.in)