SHO suspended after ‘clash’ with councillor in Faridkot

What began as a routine complaint about a stolen scooter a week ago spiralled into a full-blown row, leading to the suspension of the City Police Station SHO on Thursday.

The issue erupted on Wednesday evening when AAP councillor Vijay Chhabra staged a dharna outside the police station after allegedly being threatened and misbehaved with by SHO Sanjeev Kumar.

Chhabra said he had been accompanying a resident from his ward to lodge a complaint about a scooter theft, but despite repeated visits to the police station for over a week, no FIR had been registered. “When I went again to meet the SHO, he used abusive language and even threatened to implicate me in a false case,” Chhabra alleged.

As information about the confrontation spread, many local residents and leaders of the Congress, SAD and BJP joined the councillor’s protest. The situation grew tense until DSP Tarlochan Singh arrived at the spot, assuring the protesters that a theft case would be registered immediately, and persuaded the SHO to apologise. The protest was later called off. However, soon after, Chhabra publicly announced his resignation from all AAP positions, expressing anguish over what he called his party’s indifference.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the local unit of AAP. A day later, Faridkot MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon personally visited Chhabra’s residence to pacify him. Following the MLA’s intervention, Chhabra withdrew his resignation. Confirming the disciplinary action, DSP Tarlochan Singh said that SHO Sanjeev Kumar had been placed under suspension for his conduct and for failing to promptly register the scooter theft case. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident.