Punjab Police is renowned all over as a brave force. The menand women of this state police have handled crises like terrorism and beat it.
In both the waves of COVID, the men and women of the forcedid not shy from their duties in face of the pandemic and even distributedfree meals to needy.
However, in the last one week cops of Punjab Police havecommitted such acts that bring shame not only to the force or the state, buthumanity as well.
These acts are alleged rape of a woman, slapping abusinessman, kicking basket of vegetable seller, misbehaving with public, andstealing eggs.
1. ASI caught red-handed raping a woman in Bathinda,video goes viral
In a shameful incident, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI),posted with the CIA-1 wing of the Bathinda police, was caught red-handed whileallegedly raping a woman in her house in Bathinda. The villagers who came tothe rescue of the woman, recorded the incident on their mobile cameras.
In the video, ASI, Gurwinder Singh, is seen in acompromising position while pleading the villagers to stop the camera.
The incident took place at woman’s house in Bucho town inBathinda. The woman alleged that the ASI in question had sought sexual favoursand had repeatedly raped her after implicating her son in an NDPS case.
The woman in her complaint to the police said that ASIGurwinder Singh has registered a false case against her 20-year-old son underthe NDPC Act. She said the policeman deliberately lodged a case against his sonin order to pressurize her into a physical relationship with him.
The man was imprisoned.
Later on, the man attempted suicide late night in jail byinflicting self-injury using sharp object to his neck and hands.
He was unsuccessful and the authorities immediately got himadmitted to Civil Hospital for treatment in addition to a medical checkup.
2. Punjab Police’s atrocities in broad daylight,businessman slapped
A Punjab Police officer in Amritsar allegedly slapped a manfor violating curfew norms, the CCTV footage of which has gone viral on thesocial media.
With this another video followed, showing the man who wasslapped, Raghav, narrating his story. Raghav, a local businessman from PratapBazaar near Guru Bazaar, has said that the incident took place today while hewas working in his shop during the restricted hours.
He said that he was working on GST returns as the next dayis deadline without penalty for the returns filing, therefore, he was forced towork during the curfew hours. “The unruly behavior of the Punjab Police isreally not acceptable as they need to understand the problems of the smallbusinessmen”, he said adding that he has been promised of swift and just actionand thus he is not pressing any charges.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said such misconduct will not be toleratedat any cost.
Afraid of stern action, Inspector Parkash Singh has issuedan apology for misbehaving with a businessman in Punjab’s Amritsar.
Earlier in the day, a Punjab Police officer allegedlyslapped a man for violating curfew norms after which the video of the incidentdid round on the internet.
It may be noted here that after few hours, the ruckus cameto an end followed by the various meetings of officials with MarketAssociations to open 50% shops on a rotational basis in the wake of risingCovid-19 cases. In the meeting, it was decided that on one day one side of theshops would open and on the next day the other side of the shops would open.
3. Punjab Cop harasses roadside vendor, kicks down hisvegetable basket
In yet another hideous incident, a video of a cop in Punjabhas gone viral on social media. In the viral video, the cop is seen misbehavingwith a vegetable vendor. Identified as SHO Navdeep Singh, was caught on camerakicking the vegetable basket. The incident took place in Phagwara, Punjab.
The incident occurred after the Punjab government announcessemi-lockdown in the state. The cop was seen assaulting vendors amid lockdown.
Soon after the video went viral on social media, peoplestarted criticizing the Punjab police. Lashing out at the cop, netizens accusedpolice of harassing only poor people. One of the users said that it’s betterfor the government to impose a complete lockdown instead of harassing the poor.
DGP Dinkar Gupta responded, “Absolutely shameful andunacceptable. I have suspended SHO Phagwara. Such misbehaviour will not betolerated at any cost and those who indulge in it will have to face seriousconsequences.”
4. Punjab cop allegedly drunk on duty misbehaves withpublic
An ASI was caught on camera behaving rudely with the publicand one of the people claimed that he was also drunk on duty.
The department responded on the video going viral, “We haveno place for such cops in the Punjab Police. ASI Raj Kumar has been suspendedand demoted to Head Constable as punishment for his misbehaviour in Batala city.Further consequences will follow after enquiry.”
5. Police constable steals eggs, gets suspended
The police constable was caught stealing eggs. The incidentis from Jyoti Swarup road in Fatehgarh Sahib, the police constable stole foureggs from the egg cart parked at the roadside.
He then took an auto-rickshaw and escaped but he wascaptured by the camera and the video went viral on social media.
The egg cart belongs to a person named Chhindar. Accordingto the information received, when Chhindar returned to his egg cart parked atthe roadside four eggs were missing from the tray. A person standing nearcaptured the police constable’s action on the camera and told the egg supplierabout the incident.
DGP Dinkar Gupta’s prompt disciplinary action against eachof these cops commensurate with their actions is commendable, and it is hopedthat these will reinforce the sense of duty and pride that is inherent toPunjab Police.