M A I N   N E W S

Cops ‘humiliate’ panch
Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 1
In a rare incident, an 80-year-old “Amritdhari” member of the Nahal village panchayat was allegedly made to undergo inhuman torture by the Shahkot police station SHO and other officials. They allegedly pulled him from his hair, forced him to strip and made him swallow sand at the police station.

According to Mr Atma Singh, his only fault was that he had accompanied the panchayat to register its protest against the “patronising” of liquor mafia of the township by the police officials, including SHO Ram Dutt Sharma.

Talking to TNS here today, the panchayat headed by Sarpanch Rattan Singh alleged that Atma Singh was illegally detained by the SHO, when a delegation comprising panchayat members went to meet him requesting him to take stern action against those indulging in illegal liquor distillation on November 29. Irked at the complaint, the SHO started abusing and thrashing him, while the other panchayat members were pushed out of the police station.

Atma Singh, who is still in the hospital, alleged that he was made to strip at the police station. He was forced to remove his ‘kirpan’ and his “kachhehra” (underwear) was also torn. “I was thrashed ruthlessly and left to bleed. The officials forced me to eat sand and pulled my beard. So much so that I was made to crawl on the floor and was threatened with dire consequences if I opened my mouth,” alleged Atma Singh and the panchayat, which has also sent a representation to the Akal Takht Jathedar, Punjab Human Rights Commission and Minorities Commission of India for holding an enquiry into the incident.

All members of the panchayat belong to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal. The panchayat alleged that the SHO was patronising some people who were close to him and indulging in the illegal liquor distillation. “It is ironical that we are being humiliated when the state government is being run by our own party. Punjab Minister Ajit Singh Kohar, who represents our area, too, has failed to help us” begrudged Rattan Singh. Meanwhile, sources said Atma Singh was close to Mr Kohar.

The Shahkot DSP, Mr Harjit Singh Brar, on the other hand, maintained that Atma Singh had been booked for assaulting a constable earlier and was using “pressure tactics” for withdrawal of the case against him.

He said Atma Singh had come to the police station to register his protest against a raid on the house of Joginder Singh, another panchayat member.

Though the police officials clarified that information against Joginder Singh was wrong, Atma Singh “misbehaved” with the SHO and allegedly assaulted a constable, for which he was booked on November 29. “Actually, he has been pressuring us to withdraw the case,” said Mr Brar. The SSP, Mr. Gaurav Yadav, said an inquiry had been ordered.