Dalit activists illegally detained, beaten up by police: PMU

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 10

Activists of the Pendu Mazdoor Union (PMU) today held a dharna against the beating up of Dalit labourers Gurpal Singh and Satpal Singh at Surkhan village at Bholath.

The labourers alleged their shanties and clothes were also burnt and Gurpal’s buffalo also gone missing. Bholath DSP and tehsildar, who reached the spot, assured justice to Gurpal.

PMU press secretary Kashmir Singh Ghugshore said if requisite action was not taken against the Bholath SHO and the husband of the Surkhan village sarpanch by February 11, then the activists would hold a dharna outside the local thana.

They said PMU activists, under Gurpal, leading 30 homeless labourers, had sat on a dharna outside the Block Development and Pachayat Officer Nadala’s office. They said Gurpal had been taking shelter at a common land in the village.

While Gurpal’s wife Harjit Kaur had contested as the village sarpanch, they alleged angered at that the village sarpanch along with other persons kept Gurpal, along with his father and another resident Satpal Singh, in police custody illegally.

They alleged that Gurpal’s wife was also beaten. The activists alleged Gurpal and his wife were beaten in the police custody and, hence, were admitted to a hospital.

They said his belongings kept in his shanty were also burnt and the Dalit family’s buffalo taken away. They said later, his shelter was locked.

Ghugshore said Gurpal was freed only late last evening after the matter was brought to the notice of the police.

However, the Bholath SHO, Ashok Kumar, said: “The couple had been living on an encroached land for which the police was receiving complaints against them. Anticipating action, they have made counter allegations against the police. They were not detained.”

Bholath DSP Davinder Singh said: “We are conducting an inquiry in the matter. Gurpal has been called at 11 am tomorrow.” 

“Afterwards, we will decide the requisite action in the case,” he said.