Chandigarh,
Amid public outcry over alleged “inept” handling of the stalking and attempted kidnapping of IAS officer Virender Kundu’s daughter Varnika Kundu by state BJP chief Subhash Barala’s son, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) today submitted a memorandum to UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore.

Led by Ashok Arora, state president of the INLD, and Sheela Bhayan, president of the women wing of the party, 12 MLAs and some district presidents of the party’s women wing today met Badnore and demanded a free and fair probe in the case by including charges of kidnapping and attempt to murder in the FIR against Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar.

The INLD also requested Badnore to use his office to ensure that Barala resigned from his post to allow pressure-free investigation into the case.

The memorandum said though the BJP and the Sangh Parivar organisations have been delivering sermons about ethics and the need to cultivate ‘sanskars’ among people, its hypocrisy stands exposed by Vikas Barala’s reprehensible deeds.

Earlier, women activists of the INLD from across the state assembled in the party’s office at the MLA Flats here this afternoon.

Addressing them, Arora said the horrendous details of the incident narrated by the victim have made it clear that it was not merely a case of stalking but the real intention was kidnapping and even causing physical harm. He said the manner in which the Chandigarh Police allegedly diluted the case, it was evident that they were working under pressure from the BJP government.

He alleged that on the one hand, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar termed it as an individual case with no linkage of Barala while on the other hand, office-bearers of the ruling party went to the police station for furnishing bond for Vikas Barala.

Arora said the party would not rest till Vikas Barala was booked under relevant sections and his father resigned to facilitate fair investigation into the case. They would meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this connection, he added.

While the INLD activists were heading for the Punjab Raj Bhawan, they were stopped by the police at the MLA Hostel gate.