Minors accuse SHO of extortion

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 17

Two minor children have made some serious allegations against Bholath SHO Amandeep Kaur. The children, who are siblings (aged 15 and 16), alleged that the SHO extorted Rs1,86,000 from them and framed their father in a false drugs case.

The Kapurthala SSP has marked an inquiry into the case. Addressing mediapersons here on Thursday, the siblings alleged that on March 25, the SHO came to their house at Khassan village in Bholath on the pretext of making a search regarding a drug-related case against her father but took away Rs 86,000 which was kept in the house at that time. They said the money was to be spent on their father’s treatment. They alleged an additional Rs 1 lakh was also given to the SHO at her insistence.

Gurvinder Kaur (16), a student of Class XI, alleged, “The SHO came to our house on March 25. While she kept saying she had to conduct a search we kept asking her for the reason. On asking that senior members of the village should have been brought along with her, she slapped me. She searched the entire house, asked for the almirah keys and took away Rs 80,000 lying in the almirah and Rs 6,000 under my pillow. These were meant for my father’s treatment.”

Gurvinder said earlier her father had been booked in a drugs case and had been taking injectibles previously. At present, he was indisposed and bed-ridden.

She said, “My father was suffering from a severe knee problem for which he was operated upon. My mother died in May last year after which he was left bed-ridden. He couldn’t even go to bathroom and kept a bucket with him. We were keeping this money for his treatment. The SHO sought Rs 1 lakh from us to release our father. She said if we would give her Rs 86,000 house money and an additional Rs 1 lakh, they would let him go but they didn’t. Rather we withdrew Rs 1,10,000 more from bank and gave her Rs 1 lakh of that.

Despite this, our father was taken to the police station that day and a case was lodged against him and he was arrested. When we reminded her of her assurance, she asked us to keep quiet failing which she would file a case against my brother too.”

Gurvinder, who is in Class XI and received 97 per cent marks in 10th standard pre-boards. Her brother (15) is in Class X. Her mother died last year. While her relatives, who live in the US, support the family, she said her next-door uncle currently feeds both the siblings.

Her father Rajwant Singh (40) is in Gurdaspur jail.

While an enquiry into the case was marked by Kapurthala SSP Kanwardeep Kaur to SP Vashaljit Singh, the enquiry is currently under way. Meanwhile, the SHO continues to officiate at the same police station.

Speaking to The Tribune, SHO Amandeep Kaur said, “There is no truth in the allegations levelled by the children.”

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