Kathgarh (Nawanshahr), February 14
While lovers across the country were celebrating Valentine’s Day today a 22-year Dalit boy who married his 18-year Brahmin Valentine against the wishes of girl’s “biradari”, was “stripped” in a police station, and allegedly beaten up to by the Kathgarh SHO and girl’s relatives. The couple were in police protection for fear of being “eliminated” or “harmed” by the other party.
Kuldip and Rishi Bala, married four months back, have been provided security by Nawanshahr SSP M.F. Farooqui. He also transferred SHO Paramjit Singh after the incident on Tuesday. The newly weds and their families are still unable to come to terms with their experience and fear still haunts them. Kuldip alleged that he was hit with “lathis” by Paramjit Singh, the girl’s cousin Jeewan Pal and his three accomplices, in the police station on Tuesday night after being “dragged” out from his house and after being “bundled” into a car by the SHO. His left arm was fractured and he had injuries on his right hand and both feet. His family maintained that he was unable to move and needed help for going go to the washroom.
“It was a nightmare, I cannot forget easily. The SHO, Jeewan Pal and three others came to our home on Tuesday night, took me to the Kathgarh police station, where I was stripped and was beaten up mercilessly by the SHO, Jeewan Pal and his three acquaintances for
two hours. I was released only after 35-40 residents of our locality gheraoed the police station. Even they were threatened by the SHO. Except for the SHO, Jeewan Pal and three people, there was no police official present inside the police station at that time,” alleged Kuldip Kumar, adding that the police protection was provided to them on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which also “ordered revocation” of all “false” cases, including one of abduction of Rishi Bala.
“We are still under threat. and receiving threats of dire consequences from Jeewan Pal and others,” alleged Rishi Bala, who also corroborated the allegations of her husband even as Sakhi Ram, the father of Kuldip an employee at the Primary Health Centre at a nearby village, was upset and reluctant to say anything about the issue. Kuldip and Rishi Bala said though Jeewan was against their marriage, her parents and others in this Brahmin-dominated village had no objection to it.
Refuting the allegations against him, Jeewan Pal alleged that apart from “kidnapping” his cousin, he was attacked and injured by Kuldip, his father and their supporters at Mutton village on December 13. “The investigation is still pending with the SP Headquarter. I was admitted in a Ropar hospital. I also approached the Punjab Human Rights Commission, and a case was registered against them. They are making baseless allegations against me,” alleged Jeewan Pal, wondering how his mobile number was obtained by this correspondent. “I am going to hold a press conference against them and to clear my position as well,” said Mr. Jeewan Pal.
Mr M.F. Farooqui, SSP, Nawanshahr, said, “The SHO got annoyed and had thrashed Kuldip for not paying heed to the police advice against visiting the village for some time as this could have led to more tension. But, Kuldip visited the village, and roamed around in his Gypsy in the village along with his wife, which added fuel to the fire. I also counselled the boy and village elders from both sides, which, worked. There was no communal or caste tension in the village.” Mr Farooqui said the SHO was transferred for his fault.
