Drug addicts kidnap PCR cop, 1 held

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 12

Three car-borne persons allegedly kidnapped a cop, ASI Chatar Singh, and snatched his service weapon while he was taking them to the police station for interrogation. The accused had sped away from a checkpoint installed at Mehta road. The car was later intercepted by ASI Chatar Singh and head constable Malkeet Singh of the PCR team near Vallah railway crossing.

Within 24 hour of the incident, the police arrested one of the suspects while raids were on to nab his two accomplices. According to the police, they were drug addicts and habitual offenders involved in snatchings. The police recovered the snatched weapon and the car used in the crime.

While giving details, Harpal Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (City-3), on Tuesday said that Tarlochan Singh, in charge Guru Teg Bahadur police chowki along with a police party had put up a checkpoint on Chowk Tahli Wala turn on Mehta road falling under the Maqboolpura police station here. They signalled a Verna car to stop. The car was running at very high speed. The occupants sped away the car from the spot.

Immediately a message was flashed on the control room and a PCR team including ASI Chatar Singh and head constable Malkeet Singh chased the car on their bike. They intercepted the car near Vallah railway crossing. ASI Chatar Singh sat in the car and asked them to turn towards Maqboolpura police station for further interrogation. Malkeet was following the car on the bike.

He said the driver instead to taking the car to police station, drove towards GT Road side. The accused entered in the scuffle with the cop. The driver took out a pistol and pointed at ASI Chatar Singh. After snatching his service weapon —38 bore pistol and five rounds— dumped half a km away from the spot.

Following the incident, an alert was sounded when the accused sped towards Batala side. Police teams of Vallah, Verka and Maqboolpura police started chasing the car. Harpal Singh said within 24 hours of the incident, the police nabbed one of the suspect identified as Sukhjinder Singh of Vallah village along with the car and snatched service weapon of the ASI. Their accomplices Harjinder Singh and Harjit were yet to be arrested.

Cops attacked in police chowki; probe ordered

Several persons allegedly attacked cops at Chowki Kot Mit Singh here on late last evening. They threw stones at the police chowki while a cop, identified as Gurwinder Singh, was injured in the incident.

Gurwinder Singh said he, along with chowki in-charge Amarjit Singh, patrolling in the area on foot and checking the lockdown violations. He said they found a suspicious scooter in the area and asked about its ownership from the person standing near it. He could not produce any documents. After preliminary questioning they let go him while asking him to show the documents to the police later.

The police said when they were returning to the police chowki Avtar Singh of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Nagar olong the Tarn Taran road started provoking people. He along with a number of residents followed the police and attacked the cops. As the police chowki is located near the railway tracks, the accused started throwing stones at the cops.

Avtar Singh, on the other hand, alleged that the area police harass poor people of the area unnecessarily under the influence of liquor. He said the chowki in-charge keeps a personal grudge against him. He said he had submitted complaints against him with the senior police officials and also with the SC Commission. He said on Wednesday, the cops held him and took to the police chowki and physically assaulted him. Perneet Singh Dhillon, SHO, Sultanwind police station, said they have taken written complaints from Avtar Singh and the matter was being probed. He said appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty.

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