Chandigarh Police have registered a case against Waris Punjab De leader and Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, along with 14 others, following a violent protest in the city. The FIR includes a serious mistake — it names a former Akali Dal legislator who passed away in January 2025.
Chandigarh Police Book Waris Punjab De Leaders After Protest Clash
The case comes a day after Waris Punjab De activists clashed with police personnel, vandalised government vehicles, and uprooted barricades in Chandigarh. According to The Tribune, the supporters of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh had clashed with police after officers stopped them from marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The protesters were demanding the release of Sikh political prisoners and the jailed MP. Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd, as reported by CNN News18.
Deceased Former MLA Named in FIR — Name Also Misspelled
The FIR includes former SAD MLA from Ghanaur, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, who died in January 2025. The mistake came to light when party office-bearers objected to the FIR, pointing out that Ajaib's name was written as "Ajeeb Singh" — a clear error on two counts.
According to The Tribune Chandigarh, the police booked Ayali and the others for clashing with officers. Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
"The Chandigarh Police booked Akali Dal Waris Punjab De leader Manpreet Singh Ayali and 14 others for clashing with police after officers stopped them." — The Tribune Chandigarh
Protest Demands and Police Response
The demonstration was part of an ongoing campaign by Waris Punjab De, the organisation led by Amritpal Singh. Videos from the protest show workers climbing over water cannon vehicles as police attempted to control the situation, as seen in footage shared by Times Now.
The protest turned confrontational when police blocked the marchers from reaching the Chief Minister's residence. The activists vandalised government property and removed barricades before police intervened with water cannons, according to video footage of the incident.
Our Take: Careless Error Undermines Police Case
To put it plainly, booking a dead man in an FIR is more than an embarrassment — it is a serious procedural failure. The fact that the name was also misspelled makes it worse. If police cannot verify basic details like whether a person is alive, it raises questions about how carefully the rest of the case was prepared.
This mistake gives the accused an easy point of attack. Defence lawyers will likely use this error to question the credibility of the entire FIR. For a case involving a high-profile political organisation, such carelessness is unacceptable.
The protest itself — with demands for releasing political prisoners — is a separate political matter. But the police's job is to handle such situations with precision. Naming a deceased person in an official legal document is a basic error that should not happen. The Chandigarh Police need to correct this immediately and explain how it occurred.
Sources & References
- The Tribune — Dead Akali Dal legislator booked for Waris Punjab De protest in Chandigarh
- The Tribune Chandigarh — Police book Manpreet Singh Ayali and 14 others
- CNN News18 — Police use water cannons during protest
- Times Now — Worker climbs water cannon vehicle during protest
- Instagram — Video of police dispersing protesters