BATHINDA/MANSA (October 21, 2009 – Harjinder Sidhu) A Woman of Jhandu Ke village in Mansa district has accused police of keeping her husband and son in illegal confinement for the last eight days after they were picked up on October 14.
PROBE MARKED, family moves HC, rights panel
BATHINDA/MANSA (October 21, 2009 – Harjinder Sidhu) A Woman of Jhandu Ke village in Mansa district has accused police of keeping her husband and son in illegal confinement for the last eight days after they were picked up on October 14.
In her complaint to the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) and other high-ups, Ranjeet Kaur claimed that after her son Avtar Singh (26) and husband Gurbachan Singh (70) were picked up by Jhunir SHO Jasvir Singh, she was told that they will be released in the evening after some inquiry.
“But they have not returned till date. We have no information regarding their whereabouts,” rued Ranjeet Kaur, who is left with her daughter Amritpal Kaur in the house.
When contacted, district police chief Hardial Singh informed HT that he has entrusted an inquiry to Sardulgarh DSP Rajdeep Singh for thoroughly looking into the allegations levelled by family.
On the other hand, the Jhunir SHO feigned ignorance about the detention of Gurbachan Singh and Avtar Singh by the Mansa police. He maintained that a family member, Jagtar Singh, was reportedly involved in Dera Sacha Sauda follower Lilly Kumar’s murder. “Some other police party might have picked them up for interrogation,” he said, while denying that the father-son duo was in his custody.
The SHO evaded further queries on the pretext that he was on leave.
As per Ranjeet Kaur, her elder son Jagtar Singh was district president of Sikh Students Federation for about two years and had resigned from the post after the completion of his studies a year ago. He runs an education academy to earn livelihood for the family, she added.
Amritpal Kaur claimed that the police were also enquiring about Jagtar Singh, who had fled from the house fearing “police torture”.
“The SHO says he was going to keep my father and brother in detention till Jagtar Singh appears before him for inquiry,” she said.
Meanwhile, former president of Mansa Bar Association Advocate Ajit Singh Bangu claimed that as there was no charge against Jagtar Singh or his father and brother, why the police are not stating their reason to question Jagtar Singh?
“This is a serious matter of infringement of basic right of life and liberty as assured by Article 21 of the Constitution,” he added, while referring to recent directive by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Courtsy: Hindustan Times (Dated: 24 October, 2009 – P.4)