Chandigarh: The coordinator of Lehara Gagga unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Sangrur district has been booked for allegedly attempting to rape a minor Dalit girl.

 Police said the 15-year-old girl, a resident of a village in Moonak sub-division of Sangrur, had gone to the photo studio of AAP member Hardeep Singh to get her photo clicked on Thursday when he allegedly tried to rape her.

 Hardeep has been booked under sections 376 read with 511 (attempt to rape), 354B (assault and use of criminal force with intention to disrobe), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 306 (punishment for criminal act) of IPC and under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Moonak police station, said deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Aakashdeep Singh Aulakh.

 The girl was accompanied by her younger sister who was waiting outside the studio's dark room when the alleged crime took place, the DSP said. On hearing the girl's shrieks, her sister raised an alarm and locals gathered, the DSP said. Realizing that a crowd had gathered outside his shop, Hardeep unlocked the door and escaped. He is yet to be arrested.

Jasbir Singh Sekhon, Sangrur zone coordinator of AAP, said police should reach the truth. "If Hardeep is found guilty, action should be taken against him," he said, adding that political vendetta should not come into play in the case.

Former Punjab chief minister and senior Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said bad elements had found their way into AAP. She said she stood in support of the girl's family.