NRI woman alleges inaction by police

Jalandhar, February 15

Sharanjit Kaur, a UK resident, today levelled allegations against the Jalandhar police, alleging that it had failed to register a case against her husband and in-laws who allegedly tried to murder her. Backed by AAP leader HS Walia, the party MLA candidate said the party would hold a dharna outside the SSP’s office if the Kaur’s case did not reach a logical conclusion within a week.

Addressing a press conference here today, Sharanjit, who originally hails from the Billi Choharmi village in Shahkot, said she got married to Shaminder Singh, son of Joginder Singh Senior of the Mehmowal village (also in Shahkot) on April 21, 2011.

“When I married my husband, based in the UK, we kept fighting on and off for three years after the wedding but largely the things went on smoothly. However, once he got the citizenship after three years, the fights sharply increased and my in-laws started pestering me for dowry. They also pressurised me to come and live in Jalandhar,” she alleged.

She said things reached a peak when they tried to burn her by pouring kerosene on her at their village in Jalandhar. “In May 2016, they tried to set me on fire by pouring kerosene on me. I, somehow, succeeded in escaping my in-laws’ house and was taken to the hospital by some neighbours,” she alleged.

A teary-eyed Sharanjit (30) said that after the incident, she never went back to her in-laws’ house. The police have failed to pursue due course of action in the matter.

She said while a formal FIR (no.0114) was lodged on May 31, 2016, by the police (against her husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law) after recording her statement, they failed to include Section 307 of the IPC which deals with attempt to murder.

She also said rather the police was putting pressure on her for the dismissal of the case.

“The FIR has been lodged as per sections 323, 498 and 120 B of the IPC and the other sections haven’t been included even though we demanded it and the lab reports clearly state the fluid poured on my clothes was kerosene,” Sharanjit alleged.

Meanwhile, AAP leader HS Walia said, “While the SHO of the Shahkot police station followed the due course after the complaint. The challan, in this case, has to be presented by SSP Balkar Singh, who isn’t doing it. The case is pending with him. We have made complaints to the various officials, SHO, DIG as well as the SSP but so far the case hasn’t been taken up. If the challan isn’t presented within a week, then the activists of the AAP along with the family shall hold a dharna outside the SSP’s office.”

When contacted, SSP, Balkar Singh said, “So far, no such case has come to my notice. However, if there is any case, they are most welcome to meet me and we shall take up their grievance.” — TNS