AGTF Deployed to Arrest AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra in Rape Case; Punjab Govt Faces Criticism

Patiala — In a dramatic turn of events, the Punjab government has tasked the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) with arresting its own MLA from Sanaur, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who is facing charges of rape and cheating.

The move came almost 24 hours after high drama in Karnal’s Dabri village, where Pathanmajra allegedly evaded arrest by the Punjab Police. The case was registered in Patiala on Monday on the complaint of a Zirakpur-based woman.

AGTF, known for its successful operations against top gangsters, has now been deployed to trace the absconding legislator. The special team is being headed by DSP Bikramjit Brar, a gallantry medal awardee who previously led encounters against Sidhu Moosewala’s killers and dreaded gangster Vicky Gounder. Sources confirmed that Brar and his team are camping in Haryana, scanning CCTV footage and mobile locations to track the MLA’s movements.

According to police officials, Pathanmajra managed to escape during the raid when his supporters and villagers allegedly pelted stones and fired gunshots, helping him flee. Police claimed to have seized three weapons and an SUV during the operation. However, relatives of Gurnam Singh alias Laadi, where Pathanmajra was reportedly staying, denied the police version. They alleged that no firing or violence took place and that police officials had instead stayed till 8 am, even having breakfast and holding discussions with the MLA.

The deployment of AGTF has drawn sharp criticism for the ruling AAP government, as the inability to arrest its own MLA has raised questions on law enforcement. The controversy has further deepened since Pathanmajra had recently criticised his own party, accusing it of mishandling flood relief operations and alleging interference from a “Delhi lobby” in Punjab’s internal affairs.

A senior police officer said the decision to hand over the case to AGTF was a stern step, adding, “We are taking the developments seriously and will leave no stone unturned to arrest the MLA. We want to arrest him, and that’s it.”