Finally, torture victim gets justice; two cops sacked

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, September 13

After over five years of his unrelenting fight against all odds to get justice in a police torture case, a Kotkapura resident succeeded in putting two Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) of Faridkot Police behind bars for two years. Besides, the state police department has sacked both guilty cops.

The incident dates back to May 2014 when cops Surjit Singh and Jang Singh of the Kotkapura police had trespassed into the house of Sunil Kumar, a resident of Prem Nagar in Kotkapura, kidnapped him and wrongfully confined him in the police lock-up for two days to extort money.

As the police had allegedly not taken any action on the complaint of Sunil Kumar, so he was forced to file a criminal complaint against Jang and Surjit Singh and also the SHO, Kotkapura police, to get justice. In a court case filed by him in July 2014, Sunil alleged that his mouth was wrapped with cloth and water was put in his nose due to which his breath was stopped and there were attempts to kill him in the police lock-up. The complainant alleged that he was subjected to torture for two days at the Kotkapura and Jaito police stations as the cops wanted to extort money and procure his signature on some blank papers.

In March this year, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Faridkot, awarded two-year jail term to both Jang Singh and Surjit Singh in this police torture case. The court had not taken any action against the SHO as there was no substantial evidence to probe his involvement in this criminal act.

After their conviction in the criminal cases, the Faridkot police had started the proceedings for their dismissal from service and now, after completion of the proceedings with the approval of the DGP’s office, both guilty cops were ordered to be dismissed from service on Thursday.