Bajwa gave ‘untrue’ info about gangsters at Chandigarh bus stand, report sought

Chandigarh, May 12

The Chandigarh Police have sought a detailed report on the incident in which Punjab Police Inspector Parminder Singh Bajwa provided information about the presence of gangsters at a bus stand here last month, which later turned out to be “untrue”.

Bajwa, who was the SHO of the Mehatpur police station at Shahkot in Jalandhar, was yesterday replaced by the Election Commission over complaints of bias and violation of the code of conduct in filing of an FIR against Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, the Congress candidate for the Shahkot bypoll.           

He was arrested yesterday for allegedly assaulting a government official in Jalandhar.

On the intervening night of April 22 and 23, Bajwa had called up the Chandigarh Police control room, informing them about the presence of 10 to 12 armed gangsters at a ‘Dhaba’ at the Sector 43-bus stand, according to the Chandigarh Police.

After getting inputs about the gangsters, a Chandigarh Police team reached the bus stand within no time and asked Bajwa about the gangsters.

“When I asked him about what colour of clothes the gangsters were wearing, Bajwa could not reply,” said Chandigarh Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Jaswinder Singh.

Jaswinder was leading the team of police comprising Commando unit at that time.

People present at the ‘Dhaba’ and in and around bus stand were thoroughly checked and verified.

“But we did not find any armed gangster. Some persons on whom Punjab Police Inspector expressed suspicion were found to be genuine,” said the DSP.

“A detailed report on the matter has been sought from the police official concerned who went to the spot on that day,” said SSP, Chandigarh Police, Nilambari Jagadale here today.

SSP Jagadale said the next course of action would be decided after receiving the report.

Meanwhile, Bajwa was shifted to the de-addiction centre at the Jalandhar civil hospital.

The condition of Bajwa was “stable”, Jalandhar Civil Surgeon Jaspreet Kaur said today.

Bajwa is being kept under observation of a panel of nine specialised doctors at the de-addition centre.

As the SHO of the Mehatpur police station, Bajwa had booked the Congress candidate for the Shahkot bypoll in an alleged illegal mining case.

He was yesterday arrested from the Jalandhar court and booked under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC.

He was carrying his licensed revolver at the time of being frisked, police had said yesterday. Bajwa had gone to the district court to seek security for himself as he feared for his life.

Bajwa was sent to judicial custody till May 25.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had earlier said the FIR against Laddi was part of a political conspiracy.

He had also accused Bajwa of being in touch with leaders of the opposition SAD and AAP. — PTI