Caught on CCTV camera thrashing old man, two policemen suspended

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 26

SP Abhishek Jorwal today suspended ASI Suresh and constable Dinesh for thrashing and misbehaving with a 70-year-old man at Prabhuprem Puram in Ambala cantonment. They were sent to the police lines last night.

Both policemen were deployed on PCR-8 and were sent on a complaint against Om Prakash Saini (70) to Prabhuprem Puram on Monday night. Saini’s neighbours had complained to the police that the old man abuses people and pelts stones at them.

The policemen were caught on a CCTV camera while dragging the old man out of his house and thrashing him at Prabhprem Puram. They took Saini to police station and later his son took him home.

Next day, the old man was admitted to a private hospital with several bodily injuries. Meanwhile, the CCTV camera footage went viral and both policemen were sent to the police lines late last night.

Subhash, SHO of Mahesh Nagar police station, said, “There was a complaint against the old man and the PCR in charge and the driver reached the colony. Saini abused them and even bit the arm of one of them, provoking them to use force. He was not maltreated at the police station and there is no complaint against the policemen”.

On the other hand, the SP said, “The old man misbehaved with the policemen, provoking them to use force. But still their action was wrong and the Police Department condemns their behaviour. They have been suspended”.

Meanwhile, Saini’s neighbours have come out in the support of the suspended policemen. A few residents of Prabhuprem Puram reached the PWD rest house today where Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij was holding a Janta Darbar.

Lakhmi Chand, who had lodged a complaint against Saini, said, “He abuses everyone and even disrobes himself publicly. We had an argument with him that night and following our complaint the policemen arrived at the colony. They dragged him out of his house as he was not coming with them and was abusing them”.

“Next day, around 6:50 am, his son Amit called me up and told me that he had thrashed his father and now he would not disturb anyone,” he claimed. The policemen shouldn’t have been suspended, he said.