Chandigarh: In a late-night operation, Punjab Police’s Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) descended on Dabri village in Haryana’s Karnal district, searching for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and his relative, former sarpanch Gurnam Singh Ladi.
The team, led by DSP Vikramjit Brar, known for handling high-profile cases, focused on examining village CCTV footage to track the fugitives.
At approximately 11 PM on Tuesday, a convoy of five police vehicles arrived in Dabri. Officers contacted the current sarpanch, Suresh Kumar, to access security cameras installed by the village panchayat.
The team meticulously reviewed footage near Ladi’s residence and other key locations in the village, seeking leads on Pathanmajra and Ladi, whose phone has been unreachable. CCTV recordings from other parts of Karnal were also inspected.
Sarpanch Suresh Kumar confirmed the police examined the footage but said he was not directly involved and was unaware of specific findings. He added that senior Punjab Police officials are leading the effort, but no trace of the MLA or Ladi has been found so far.
The operation follows a dramatic incident earlier that day when Punjab Police raided Ladi’s home at around 5 AM to arrest Pathanmajra.
According to a complaint lodged at Karnal’s Sadar police station, the MLA was briefly detained but escaped during transit to Patiala. The police claim villagers attacked their team with stones and gunfire, aiding Pathanmajra’s getaway. A case has been filed, and Karnal police are investigating.
Contradicting this, Ladi’s wife and local residents denied any violence, asserting that Punjab Police entered the former sarpanch’s home unannounced, engaged in cordial conversation, and shared a meal before leaving with the MLA. They insisted no stone-pelting or firing occurred.
The incident is linked to Pathanmajra’s escape from custody while being transported to Patiala. Authorities allege the MLA and his associates fired at police and attempted to run them over, injuring an officer. Pathanmajra fled in two vehicles—a Scorpio, still missing, and a Fortuner, which was later recovered with three pistols inside.
Before his brief detention, Pathanmajra posted a video online, alleging that Punjab Police framed him in a rape case under IPC Section 376 tied to a past issue involving his ex-wife. He claimed the AAP’s Delhi faction is attempting to silence him and control Punjab’s political sphere.
The search for Pathanmajra and the missing Scorpio continues, with police intensifying efforts to uncover the truth behind the chaotic events.
