BATHINDA: The alleged torture of Kapoor, son of a former Punjab ‘minster and now MLA, Surinder Kapoor, by the Punjab police and his reported involvement in cases of dacoity and extortion, has kicked up an unseemly row with wide political ramifications. ‘A two-hour bandh was observed in the city last week to protest the incident. A joint action committee formed fight the case also resolved to start a dharna at the main Sadhana Chowkion the city last week, and since Surinder Kapoor belongs to the dissident Congress camp in the State, the contentious issue has become a rallying point against Chief Minister Harcharan, Singh Brar, with Kapoor openly alleging political vendetta, State Congress President Virendra Kalaria has already joined issue. ‘Whether or not Ashish Kumar is involved in the crime, as claimed by the police, is still uncertain, though police evidence appears clinching, However, the police claim that Ashish Kapoor was not even arrested, let alone tortured, is belied by medical reports, which clearly reveal torture. Pete ten tenet replace faxed to newspaper offices in Chandigarh by Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda, Rajpal Mena, said that Ashish Kapoor had not yet been arrested although; he was involved in ‘some criminal cases.
When this reporter visited Ashish Last week, tho 20year boy was visibly in pain, Ho could not walk properly due to the stretching of his legs, allegedly by the police on the night of May 25th. “His medical examination reveals injury marks on legs and swelling of the testicles,” said Surinder Kapoor.
“How has my son, who is looking after my shop, become a criminal overnight,” questioned Kapoor. “Have been framed in a political conspiracy,” he charged.
Kapoor was in Chandigarh, on May 25th, when’ he received a message from Bathinda around 5:30 p.m., saying that his son had been picked up by the police from his shop. “Lalong with Avtar Brar, MLA from Faridkot, rushed to the Chief Minister and requested him to talk to SSP, Bathinda. He did speak to him but did not pass any instructions,” Kapoor recalls.
Following this, Kapoor rushed to Bathinda and reached the police station around midnight, where hundreds ‘of people had already gathered to demand his son’s release. He alleged that he and his white were manna dice ‘and pushed out by constables. “It was aide shock for me, Asa represent a time of the people, I never expected this kind of treatment, [have not been able to explain it,” he further said.
“| had demanded that 1 along with my wife be allowed to meet Ashish. If he is involved in any criminal case, 1 is not going to shield him. But this looks like a frame-up for my political stand,” Kapoor said.
‘Ashish was finally released around 3 a.m., on May 26 but not before he ‘was tortured. He charged that his legs. Were torn apart and he was tortured in the presence of the SSP, Bathinda.
SSP Mena, however, dismisses the charges of political conspiracy and says that it was a simple and pure criminal Ca: which the son of the former minister was involved. According to SSP said that a gang had been writing threatening letters, demanding money from some doctors and businessmen of the city for the past five months. The culprits were identified by Sadhu Ram, a businessman man, when on the night of May 20; they tried to snatch his bag containing Rs 32,000 at gunpoint. Sadhu Ram raised an alarm and was able to identify the young men, but why was the FIR not lodged the next day and only on May 24? “Sadhu Ram was scared and had gone out of the town. He filed the FIR on May 24,” explains SSP.
SSP said that the extortionists, who were writing threatening letters on the letter head of Sikh Students Federation, were identified as Jaspreet Singh, Ravi Kumar, Ashish Kapoor, son of Surinder Kapoor, Balbir Singh ‘and Sunil Kumar, A case was registered on May 24 and four except Ashish were arrested and produced before the magistrate on Monday.
Surinder Kapoor, however, says that a DSP (whom he named) apologized for detaining his son and criminal cases were registered against him the next day when he threatened to move the count against torture.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1996
