Khaki shame: 2 Mohali cops sacked for murder attempt

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 22

In a major embarrassment for the Mohali police, ASI Rashpreet Singh and Constable Davinder Singh have been booked for attempt to murder for allegedly barging into Sector 71 resident Naresh Kumar’s house and trying to rob him at gunpoint on December 20.

The duo is absconding since then and has been dismissed from service with immediate effect.

ASI Rashpreet Singh, posted at the Industrial Area police station, Constable Davinder Singh, posted at the Saneta police post, and an unidentified driver of a vehicle have been booked under Sections 307, 458, 382, 323 and 34 of the IPC and 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Mataur police station. The police are raiding various places to arrest the suspects.

ASI was promoted after encounter

Rashpreet Singh was promoted to the rank of ASI (Local Rank) in April this year after taking part in an encounter in a Haryana village with gangsters in which he had suffered a bullet injury on his leg. Mohali SSP Satinder Singh said, ‘’You were rewarded for your bravery but that does not mean you start abusing your position. He is absconding right now, but will be arrested soon.’’

Mohali SSP Satinder Singh said, ‘’They were found absent from duty during the time of loot and were captured in the CCTV footage at the spot. They will be arrested soon. The possibility of their involvement in other incidents cannot be ruled out. The case is under investigation.’’

In his complaint to the police, Naresh alleged that the incident occurred on December 20 around 9.30 pm when the inverter of his house broke down. His son Pranav came out of the drawing room to check the inverter. Two unidentified persons entered the house posing as DSPs of the Excise Department. Rashpreet pointed a pistol at him and asked him to hand over all gold and cash in the house. Meanwhile, they locked the door of the drawing room from inside. When Naresh became suspicious, he asked them for a search warrant and their identity cards. The duo panicked and started beating up Naresh Kumar. The complainant read the name of Davinder Singh on the name plate attached with the uniform when he tried to grab Naresh by the arms. Rashpreet hit him several times on the head with the butt of the pistol with the intention of killing him. Later, they fled the spot in a car waiting outside.

The duo, in their police uniform, failed in their bid to loot money or gold from the victim’s house, said the top cop. Victim Naresh Kumar suffered injuries on the head and nose. He has been admitted to a private hospital in Mohali.