Sarpanch alleges illegal detention of husband

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 19

A woman sarpanch of Valtoha village in Tarn Taran has alleged that her husband was illegally detained by the police as he was to expose the drug cartel prevailing in the region. However, the police maintained that the sarpanch faced charges of funds misappropriation and her husband was involved in it.

Salwinder Kaur said her husband Karaj Singh was arrested in frivolous cases by Valtoha SHO Harchand Singh when a state-level function was being held to declare three border villages — Kalanjar Uttar, Mastgarh and Manawa — drug-free. The function was attended by IG, Border Range, SPS Parmar.

“My husband was to hand over the list of drug smugglers to the IG. This list included the name of SHO Harchand Singh too. To avoid my husband’s meeting with the IG, Harchand Singh arrested him in false cases,” she said.

Harchand Singh said Karaj Singh was arrested on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner as he was wanted in the case of fund misappropriation in connivance with his wife. Besides, two more cases were registered against him.

“All allegations against me are baseless. There is no such list of drug peddlers. I was awarded by my department for making our village drug-free. Karaj Singh embezzled funds to the tune of over Rs 2 crore meant for development works and pension. He had confessed it during investigation,” he said.

Salwinder Kaur’s son Davinder Singh said his father was arrested from Kalanjar village in the presence of many people before the IG reached the spot, whereas the records say he was arrested from Cheema village.

“Why did the police conceal the facts. My father was arrested on the same day of the function,” he added.

Salwinder’s lawyer advocate Navjot Kaur Chabba said the case of misappropriation of funds was pending for hearing. “Salwinder’s lapse was only that she could not procure the ‘utilisation’ certification from the BDO concerned on time, whereas the affidavits of pension beneficiaries were already submitted in the court,” she added.