SAS Nagar: Two ASIs of Mohali police are accused for torturing a senior Punjabi journalist in the police station.
Major Singh said that he was covering an issue at Phase 4 Mohali Gurdwara Sahib when ASI Om Parkash and ASI Amar Nath snatched his mobile.
He alleged that after he demanded back his mobile and told the police to allow him to do his job, he was picked up by the police and was taken to a police station where ASI Om Parkash tortured him with sticks. He said that the ASI disrespected his Dartar and Kakars and he was locked up in Hawalat.
Major Singh, who is now hospitalised for treatment said that on learning about the incident SHO Manphool Singh came to him and condemned the incident. He maintained that Manphool Singh admitted that the police action was wrong and ensured him that due action will be taken against culprits.
He demanded that a under section 295A of IPC (hurting religious sentiments) should be registered against accused ASIs who disrespected his Kakars.
SHO Denies Information About the Incident:
It seems that the police is trying to snub the incident because a news report in Punjabi Tribune says that SHO Manphool Singh has expressed ignorance about torture on Major Singh by ASIs at his police station. He, however, said that the incident will be investigated.
Practice of Torture and Colonial Legacy of Police:
In the Indian subcontinent the police administration was set-up by British colonial rulers. The whole training was oriented to raise a force that could be used to keep people under control and for snubbing people’s freedom of expression. Though the colonial rulers left in 1947 and domestic elite was placed in ruling position after transfer of power but the police training and the mentality of rulers did not change. As a result the police custodial torture is a routine practise in police stations across the Indian subcontinent.
Jalandhar Incident – Police have every rights to beat the accused, ASI says aloud in Court:
Recently, a Punjab police ASI belonging to Jalandhar police said in a loud voice in the court of Additional District and Session Judge (Jalandhar) that “Police have every right to beat the accused at the time of his arrest in the present case”.
The case was related to a 20 years old man named Amol Mehmi who had not stoped his vehicle on a police check post and dragged Jalandhar police ASI, Mulak Raj on the car bonnet on May 2 during curfew in the state.
The court has issued show cause notice for ‘intemperate conduct and behaviour in the court’ to the ASI .