ASI booked for letting off drug peddler 3 months ago

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 19

The rural police have booked an assistant sub-inspector among three persons for allegedly letting off a “drug peddler” whose name figured during the interrogation of another trafficker.

According to information, the Khilchian police arrested Gurjeet Singh, alias Jama, of Chhajjalwindi village for drug peddling. A case was registered against him on Tuesday. During interrogation, he revealed that his name had figured in another case around three months ago but he was let off by the Tarsikka police.

Jama said that the Tarsikka police had arrested Baljit Singh of the same village in April this year. Baljit named him during interrogation following which the cops, led by ASI Narinderpal Singh, had raided Jama’s house, but he was not present at that point of time.

Jama then contacted Sandeep Singh, a resident of Mallowal village, and president of the Balmiki Ekta Sangharsh Dal, and Harpreet Singh, alias, Laada of Dharar village who is also the youth president of the same organisation to get his name removed from the case without getting him arrested.

He said that Sandeep and Harpreet took Rs 30,000 from him and paid Rs 19,000 to ASI Narinderpal Singh and kept the remaining amount with them. After that, no police official raided his residence.

When the matter came to light, Amritsar (Rural) SSP Parampal Singh marked a probe to the DSP (Investigations) who indicted the cop and recommended registration of a case against him.

A case has been registered against ASI Narinder Pal Singh, Sandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh Prevention of Corruption Act.

Parampal Singh said such actions wouldn’t be tolerated. He said further investigation was marked to the Jandiala DSP. The ASI has been placed under suspension with immediate effect while raids were on to nab them, said the SSP.

The case

• Gurjeet Singh, alias Jama, of Chhajjalwindi village arrested for drug peddling on Tuesday.  
• Revealed during interrogation that he was let off by the Tarsikka police three months ago.
• Drug peddler Baljit Singh was arrested in April who named Jama as his accomplice but ASI Narinderpal Singh, instead of arresting him, took Rs 19,000 from two leaders of a community and let him off.
• SSP Parampal Singh marked a probe to DSP (Investigations) who recommended registration of a case.