Outrage against police over death of woman during raid in Patiala
Patiala, July 7
Residents of Dhiru Basti blocked the busy Fountain Chowk here for five hours to protest the alleged police raid that led to the death of an elderly woman.
The victim was identified as Shakuntla (70). The relatives placed the victim’s body at the chowk and created a human chain around it and refused to lift the body until the culprits were arrested.
According to the victim’s son Vijay Kumar, his nephew Rohit was falsely implicated in an assault case.
On July 5, the Civil Lines police raided a house in Dhiru Basti to arrest his nephew. The men who had falsely implicated him were accompanying the police party, claimed Vijay.
During the raid, the victim was allegedly pushed and she sustained serious head injury leading to her death.
The family soon rushed her to Government Rajendra Hospital from where she was further referred to Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh. She was sent to the PGI where Shakuntala was declared brain dead. Vijay Kumar said later they took their mother to a private hospital in Patiala where she breathed her last.
He said the incident could have been avoided had the police carried out their duty responsibly.
The protesting residents refused to lift the body and demanded the registration of a case against police official and the assailants accompanying the police.
Later, senior police officials arrived and they managed to persuade the agitated residents following which the dharna was lifted.
Shivdeep Singh, SHO, Civil Lines, who was transferred in the morning, said Rohit was wanted in an assault case. He was a habitual offender and facing nearly five FIRs at Lahori Gate and Division No 4 police station.
Later during the day, the victim’s family stated that it was the member of the opposite group who had allegedly pushed the victim due to which she died.
Amritveer Singh, the newly joined SHO of the Civil Lines police station, said a cross-case has been registered against both fighting groups.
