In a major development in the rape-murder case of a 13-year-old girl in Jalandhar West, the Jalandhar Commissionerate police has dismissed ASI Mangat Ram for negligence during the investigation.
Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur, while speaking to True Scoop News, has confirmed that ASI Mangat Ram, the ex-incharge of Leather Complex Chowki, who along with three other police personnel had visited the neighbour’s house following the family’s missing person report but failed to locate the girl, has been dismissed with immediate effect.
Apart from this, two PCR Police officers have been suspended and departmental action has been initiated against them.
Meanwhile, the big negligence of ASI Mangat Ram's team came under scanner, after the victim's, body was discovered in the bathroom by family members and neighbours, triggering widespread anger across the area on last Saturday night.
Commissioner Kaur said, “This action has been taken with immediate effect, keeping in view the seriousness of the incident and the negligence that came to light during the investigation", adding that even the slightest negligence in handling criminal cases will not be tolerated.
She said that during the investigation, it was found that ASI Mangat Ram failed to carry out mandatory police procedures at the crime scene and did not properly examine the CCTV footage.
"Such negligence not only damages the reputation of the police department but also affects the process of delivering justice. Therefore, under the zero-tolerance policy, strict action has been taken, and the officer has been dismissed from service", she added.
Meanwhile, the dismissal comes amid rising public outrage, amplified by voices from across Punjab, including Punjabi singer Master Salim and actress Neeru Bajwa and even the Punjab CM himself pointing out the heinous crime and assuring strict punishment to the accused.
Recently, in an emotional video appeal on Instagram, Master Salim had urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab government, and the Centre to ensure the harshest punishment for the accused. “Thinking about that 13-year-old girl makes my throat choke and my soul tremble,” he said, calling on the police, lawyers, judges, and politicians to act swiftly and ensure justice for the victim’s family.
Moreover, the incident has shaken the entire state, with residents, political and public figures repeatedly criticizing the lapses in police action, pointing out that timely intervention could have potentially prevented the tragedy.
The ASI’s dismissal is seen as a direct response to mounting public pressure demanding accountability for failures in the investigation.
CP Kaur have assured that the probe into the murder is ongoing and that all necessary steps will be taken to bring the perpetrator to justice.