Family of youth accuses cops of harassment

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 23

Family members of a suspect in a theft case of Gobindpura village on Sunday accused police personnel of the Cantonment police station of harassment. They said the police not only forcibly detained the youth but also beaten-up him at the police station.

However, police officers denied the allegations and said the family members created a nuisance in the police station.

According to the police, on a complaint of Joginder Singh, a resident of Gobindpura village, a 20-years-old youth, Inderpreet Singh, was detained for interrogation in a theft case.

The complainant, who runs a flour mill in the village, told the police that someone had stolen money from his house on Wednesday late evening. The complainant alleged that Inderpreet and other two persons were involved in the incident.

Simarjeet Kaur, sister of the suspect, said, “Cops from the Cantonment police station harassed us. They not only took my brother forcibly from our house but also roughed him up in the police station. After hearing him screaming in pain, we entered the room where he was detained. Policemen even manhandled us.”

She said, “The charges against my brother are baseless and without any concrete evidence, the police have detained him in the police station. We demand from senior police officers of the district to intervene in the matter and provide us justice.”

When contacted, Parminderjeet Kaur, Station House Officer, Cantonment police station, said, “After an initial investigation, the police detained Inderpreet Singh and brought him to the police station for investigation. As police personnel were questioning him, his family members barged into the room and roughed up with them. They even raised slogans against the police. As per routine after receiving a complaint, we conducted an investigation and recorded statements of the suspect and the complainant. But, the family members of the suspect obstructed police personnel from performing their duty diligently.”

The SHO said, “Apart from the theft incident, we will also take action against the family members for creating a nuisance inside the police station. An inquiry into the matter is pending so far.”

Complainant Joginder Singh said, “We have given names of three suspects to the occultist of our village. Of them, he suggested that it was Inderpreet who stole the money. Before making a formal complaint, I had made it public in our village that who stole my valuables can keep the money with him or her but must return important documents, including my insurance policy.”