Villagers protest as 3 youths taken into custody

Tribune News Service

Malout, July 20

A large number of people from Kingra village here on Friday lodged a protest outside the City Malout police station after the police allegedly detained three youngsters on suspicion of theft.

On the night of July 16, a theft had taken place at a house in the village and thieves had decamped with 10-tolas of gold, Rs 20,000 cash. Later, the police had detained Gurshwinder, Kuldeep and Navdeep, all residents of the same village.

The village residents lodged a protest, raised slogans against the police. They alleged that the police were unnecessarily harassing them. The protesters further claimed that even the dog squad had raised suspicion on some other person in the village, but he was not taken into custody by the police.

Meanwhile, Jasvir Singh, SHO, City Malout police station, said, “Three persons were brought to the police station for investigation. If something is proved against them, then they will be booked otherwise released.”

Thereafter, the protesters lifted the blockade. They, however, said if the SHO did not act as per his words, they would intensify their stir.