Cop thrashed in Chogawan village, SHO suspended

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 13

A sub-inspector, Baldev Singh, was severely thrashed by several residents of Chogawan village here today. Accompanied by a team of cops, he had gone there to conduct a surprise check at the residence of one Amandeep Singh following a tip-off. Though six persons have been arrested and 14 others are at large, the SI has been accused of not informing his seniors before conducting the check therefore the SHO of Kaccha Pakka police station has been suspended.

Meanwhile, the family alleged that the SI was a relative of village Sarpanch Nirvail Singh with whom they had a land dispute. They alleged that he wanted to implicate Amandeep in a false case. The suspects also made a video while SI Baldev Singh was being thrashed which went viral on social media.

Baldev Singh is posted at the Kaccha Pakka police station in Tarn Taran. 

SPS Parmar, IG, Border Range, said the SI had raided the spot without informing his SHO, DSP and other senior officials. Therefore the  Kaccha Pakka SHO has been suspended for lack of supervision. “If SI Baldev Singh is found at fault, appropriate action will be taken against him,” he said. He said SSP Vikram Jeet Duggal would probe the case.

Later, the IG and the SSP also visited the spot where the incident took place. 

The SI said a drug trafficker, Jugraj Singh, alias Bholu, was arrested a few days ago who informed that he used to sell drugs in association with Amandeep Singh and Gagandeep Singh of Chogawan. Therefore, a raid was conducted at Amandeep’s residence today morning. 

Meanwhile, Amandeep Singh alleged that the SI wanted to implicate him in a false case as he was a relative of Congress Sarpanch Nirvail Singh with whom they had a dispute. He alleged that the team came along with three private persons who were heavy on drugs and the villagers caught one of them. “We are ready for a dope test to bring the truth forward. The police should also get a dope test conducted on Baldev Singh who was drunk,” he alleged. 

Ironically, other cops remained a mute spectator.

DGP Dinkar Gupta stated six persons, including Gagandeep and Shamsher Singh Shera, were arrested. “Amandeep, who beat up the SI, is nominated in an NDPS case. The police had confiscated 152-gm heroin from two persons of the same village," he said. Gupta said strong action would be taken for brutally assaulting police officers on duty.

Seniors weren’t in the loop

• SI Baldev Singh, along with a team, conducted a surprise check at the house of one Amandeep Singh in Chogawan village.
• Villagers thrashed him severely while accusing him of acting at the behest of village sarpanch with whom the family had a land dispute.
• Later, it came out that he didn’t inform his seniors before conducting the raid so SHO of Kaccha Pakka police station was suspended.
• Though 20 have been booked, the police said a probe would be held to ascertain the SI’s role and he too can face action if found guilty.