Deceased kabaddi player’s kin allege police inaction, protest

Bathinda, June 11

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Relatives of deceased kabaddi player Harvinder Singh, alias Jassa, of Chauke village protested with his body outside the Rampura Sadar police station on the Bathinda-Chandigarh National Highway for the second consecutive day, demanding the arrest of all suspects.

Vehicles were diverted as the protesters blocked traffic on the highway, causing inconvenience to commuters. On May 26, a group of two dozen persons allegedly attacked and injured seven kabaddi players, including Harvinder. Later, they were taken to the local Civil Hospital. Harvinder was referred to the DMC, Ludhiana, where he subsequently died during treatment.

On Wednesday evening, angry family and villagers staged a protest at the police post gate. The protesters are demanding dismissal of the police post in charge, arrest of the remaining accused, Rs 10 lakh in ex gratia to the family and a government job for a member. A meeting between SSP Bhupinderjit Singh Virk and protesters was held at the Rampura Sadar police station in the afternoon, but it remained inconclusive. Later, they met IG Jaskaran Singh.

The protesters claimed the police failed to arrive at the scene of the attack and were dilly-dallying in arresting the suspects. On Thursday, the villagers staged a protest outside the SSP office, and subsequently blocked traffic by placing the body on the highway. So far, eight of the 13 suspects have been arrested. — TNS