AAP leader, SHO get into spat over detention of illegal firecracker sellers

A high drama was witnessed last night when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Talbir Singh Gill entered into a heated argument with C-Division police station SHO Neeraj Kumar over detention of illegal firecracker sellers.

A video of Talbir Singh Gill went viral in which he alleged that a gunman of the SHO demanded Rs 10,000 from firecracker sellers and when they refused to give money, the police arrested them.

The AAP leader accused the police for not taking action against those selling heroin (Chitta) in the area. Gill said the police were not allowing the poor to feed their families family by selling firecrackers.

Targeting SHO Neeraj Kumar, Gill alleged that he was not only corrupt, but also had links with gangsters. Gill said the SHO had danced in a party of gangsters. These statements, which went viral in a video, annoyed the Valmiki community. Some activists from Valmiki Samaj also demonstrated against Gill in favour of the SHO.

According to information, cops at the C-Division police station had detained two persons, who were selling firecrackers in Gujjarpura on Sunday night. The family members of the suspects contacted AAP leader Talbir Singh Gill, who tried to contact police officials.

Gill claimed that no police official answered his phone call. After this, Gill reached the police station along with his supporters at 11 pm. SHO Neeraj Kumar was not there, but Gill argued with policemen present there and asked them to release the detainees.

Gill claimed that illegal firecrackers were being sold in the entire Annagarh area, but the police had arrested only two persons. He alleged that the cops had demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the detainees.

After this, Gill held a demonstration outside the police station and said that he would not allow injustice to the people. Meanwhile, SHO Neeraj Kumar reached the police station and claimed that a huge quantity of firecrackers had been recovered from the suspects. Action was taken as per law, he said. He refuted allegations of corruption. Vishal Jeet, ADCP (City), also arrived at the police station. A heated argument ensued between SHO Neeraj Kumar and Talbir Singh Gill. Senior police officers pacified both of them.