Pawar slapper has a history of violence

Earlier, on Nov 19, Harvinder had attacked Ex-Telecom Minister Sukh Ram outside Rohini court.

Pawar slapper has a history of violence

Earlier, on Nov 19, Harvinder had attacked Ex-Telecom Minister Sukh Ram outside Rohini court.

Video: Youth slaps Sharad Pawar

In a bizarre incident Thursday, Harvinder Singh, a gym passionate, assaulted Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. While the incident sent shock waves across the country, neighbours of the accused said it was nothing new and Singh has a history of violence.

Talk to the hand: Harvinder Singh in police custody in New Delhi on
Thursday.

A grab of the minister after the shocking incident. Pics/Subhash Barolia

Reportedly, he often picks up arguments in his neighbourhood in Vijay Vihar area. It was, however, the first time an FIR was lodged against him. Singh was taken to the Connaught Place police station, after he assaulted the senior politician.

The honour and the shame: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at the
Shrilal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman function in New Delhi on
Thursday.

The incident was reported from outside theu00a0 New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) centre where Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) had organised the Shrilal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman function.

Corruption-hit?
Pawar had come for the function at Parliament Street, where the accused attacked him all of a sudden. Singh slapped hard on Pawar's cheek, shouting he is corrupt. He tried to hit him again but security guards intervened and caught hold of him.

The man who slapped the minister, Harvinder Singh. Pics/Subhash Barolia

Singh then took out his Kirpan (a little knife) but was overpowered by the guards, who thrashed him to bring him under control. Pawar left the auditorium immediately after the incident. Meanwhile, Singh tried to slit his wrist but was restrained by guards.

He was taken to Connaught Place police station, where he was thoroughly interrogated by senior police officers to ascertain his intentions behind the attack and to check his antecedents. "During interrogation, he said he wanted to teach corrupt leaders a lesson by attacking them," said the police.

Delhi police has lodged an FIR against him under Sections 309 (attempt to commit suicide), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of his duty) and 506 (threatening someone of dire consequences) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). "The accused has been arrested and sent to jail," said a police officer.

Past imperfect
On 19 November, Harvinder Singh created ruckus outside Rohini court when he attacked Telecom Minister Sukh Ram. He was caught by police personnel but no FIR was lodged against him and he was set free after interrogation. DCP (Outer) BS Jaiswal, however, claimed Singh did not attack Sukh Ram. "He was only shouting outside the court. He did not hit Sukh Ram. He did not commit any offence," said the DCP.

He is psychotic, say neighbours
At the same time, Singh's neighbours are fed up of his behaviour. They said though he rarely speaks to them, his behaviour in general is psychotic. Singh has been living in a rented accommodation along with his two brothers and parents in A Block in Vijay Vihar area for the last one year. Neighbours said Singh claims he has two auto-rickshaws. "He loves going to gym and exercises daily. Sometimes when he speaks to us, he says he will kill the corrupt leader. Actually, he is mentally disturbed," said Rakesh Sharma, a neighbour. "Recently, two boys were quarrelling in the street. Singh intervened in the matter but instead of pacifying them, he thrashed the boys," said a person, who did not wish to be named. Singh's family members were not available to speak to the media. Neighbours said a few days ago, the wife of Singh's elder brother delivered a baby and the family was busy with that.