ON PUNJAB CM’S ORDERS, 3 COPS & 1 HOME GUARD DISMISSED, 1 INSPECTOR SHIFTED TO POLICE LINES OVER ATTACK ON SI BY DRUG SMUGGLERS
Chandigarh, September 14:
Taking suo motu cognizance of Friday’s attack on a Punjab Police Sub-Inspector by a group of drug smugglers in village Chogawan of Tarn Taran, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today ordered the immediate dismissal of the personnel who accompanied the officer but took no action to come to his rescue.
Acting on the Chief Minister’s orders, Punjab Police chief Dinkar Gupta got an inquiry conducted by IG Border into the role of the raiding police party, which accompanied SI Baldev Singh of PS Kachha Pacca to Chogawan village on the morning of 13th September. Based on his report, three police officers, including ASI Sawinder Singh, HC Gurvinder Singh, and CT Nishan Singh, along with PHG Jawan Darshan Singh, were dismissed/discharged from service for inaction and dereliction of duty. Inspector Jhirmal Singh, SHO Kacha Pakka, Tarn Taran district, was shifted to Police Lines as his explanation into the incident was found to be satisfactory, said Gupta.
According to an official spokesperson, angered by the reports of the incident on Social Media, the Chief Minister took serious note of the fact that the cops accompanying the SI simply looked on while their leader was being severely beaten. “This act of cowardly behaviour is unacceptable in a uniformed force,” said the Chief Minister, sending a strong signal down the police force that such cowardice was not acceptable under his regime.
Five persons have been arrested so far for the assault on the SI and the police have registered a case (FIR no. 196 u/s 307, 353, 186, 379B, 295, 332, 333, 506, 148, 149, 354 and 120B IPC and 67 A of IT Act) against them and some 25-30 unknown persons, said Gupta. Those arrested have been identified as Shamsher Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Dilbagh Singh and Sarmel Singh (all of Chogawan) and Shubh (resident of Tapiala).
The DGP has ordered IG Border and SSP Amritsar (Rural) yesterday to take stringent action against the culprits, who were led by drug supplier Amandeep Singh and his brother Gagandeep Singh.
Giving details, the DGP said the police party had gone to the village to raid the house of Amandeep in case FIR No. 64 u/s 21, 22, 29 NDPS Act dated 10th September, in which 152 gm of Heroin had been seized by the Tarn Taran Police. Amandeep and his brother gathered a group at their house and they made a murderous attempt on the life of SI Baldev Singh. The former Sarpanch of the village, Jatinder Singh @ Kala, Shamsher Singh @ Shera and about 25 others were also a part of the mob, said the DGP.
Others accused in the NDPS case included Jugraj Singh @ Bholu, Harwinder singh @ Rinka (already arrested) and Sandeep Singh @ Sunny (already arrested). Harwinder Singh has told the police that had taken the drug consignment from Sandeep Singh. While digging out the backward linkages of the drug supply chain, SI Baldev Singh of Kacha Pakka Police Station nominated Amandeep Singh in the case for his involvement in heroin smuggling and raided his house yesterday.
Raids are being conducted to arrest the other accused, and strong and exemplary action under the law would be taken against the drug suppliers as well as every single person who dared to attack the Police party in uniform during the discharge of official duties, said the DGP.
