The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday intensified its protest against the Congress-led government in Punjab over the alleged attack on its legislator by members of the sand mining mafia in Ropar district the previous day. Amarjit Singh Sandoa and two of his security personnel were reportedly attacked when the MLA had gone to Nurpur Bedi to check if illegal mining was going on in the area.

The MLA was admitted to Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.

Aam Aadmi Party workers burnt effigies and shouted slogans at demonstrations held across the state including Rupnagar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Moga, PTI reported. A delegation led by Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira met Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore to discuss the protest.

“If the Congress government [in Punjab] is unable to rein in sand mining and other types of mafia who are in fact dominating the government, Amarinder Singh loses moral ground to rule and he should step down,” AAP spokesperson Ashish Khetan said in New Delhi.

This incident occurred three days after five to seven assailants, suspected to be members of the sand mafia, attacked employees of the state forest department with sticks and sharp-edged weapons near Seonk village in Mohali.