‘Cops pushed my husband into drugs’

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 16

The wife of a former drug peddler and addict on Monday alleged that Palwinder Singh, SHO, Mehtiana, Hoshiarpur, had filed false cases against her husband.

Kuljit Kaur of Mana village, Hoshiarpur, alleged that four years ago her husband Sukhwinder Singh came in contact with Constable Ajay Kumar, who pushed him into the drug trade. Later, he introduced him to Constable Sushil Kumar. They both compelled Sukhwinder to supply drugs to the buyers.

She said both were deployed as gunmen of the then SHO Palwinder Singh. Moreover, SSP Raj Jit Singh had caught Sushil Kumar with packets of intoxicants and put him behind bars, but Palwinder Singh got him released.

While this was happening, Kuljit said: “My husband left the racket and started getting treatment, but Ajay Kumar and the SHO forced him to work for them. In September 2016, the SHO took me and my husband into custody and demanded Rs 3 lakh. He released me on paying Rs 70,000 and filed a false drugs case against Sukhwinder and put him in jail.”

Sukhwinder was later granted bail by the High Court. Kuljit is now upset as Palwinder Singh is again given charge of the Mehtiana. On April 25, again a case under the Arms Act was registered against her husband.

Palwinder Singh denied all allegations against him. He said: “Many cases have been registered against Sukhwinder in other police stations of the district.”

Kuljit said she had the data of all the calls and conversations with the SHO and added that their neighbours were witness to their harassment by Palwinder.

Charge denied

SHO Palwinder Singh said: "Sukhwinder Singh was involved in many illegal activities. Several cases have been lodged against him in other police stations."