LUDHIANA: The magisterial inquiry into the disappearance of a local mule cart operator, Koka, about two years ago, from the police detention, points to his death in custody
The inquiry ordered by the Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, and conducted by the district officer for removal of grievances, Chunder Shekhar Talwar, establishes that Koka and five of his relatives, including three women, were severely tortured by the police while in detention
The 20-page report proves that Narinder Nath, the then inspector of Sarabha Nagar police station, who is now a DSP, at Budhlada, and Manjit Singh, assistant sub-inspector, were responsible for illegally detaining the six persons, three of them for several weeks, and using third degree torture on them
Interestingly, the police had also seized Koka’s cart and mule which were only released after his family members shelled out Rs 1100. The mule died soon thereafter, as it had Starved during it’s month-long captivity.
Mrs. Bima alias Bimla, Koka’s widow, on whose complaint the magisterial inquiry was conducted, was the first to be picked up by ASI Manjit Singh, on May 30, 1993. The poor mother of five was picking rags near the Malhar cinema when the ASI, accompanied by two Home Guard jawans, pounced upon her and charged her with scaling some LPG cylinders from the posh locality. She was dragged and beaten before being taken to the police station where she was subjected to still more torture. Unable to bear it, she fell unconscious and was locked in a room.
Next day, when her mother, Mrs. Jallo and another relative Mrs. Patto, tried to get her release with the help of Niranjan Singh, president of Tonga Union, the police put them also in the lock-up.
Mrs. Patto was let off the next day when her son and a retired DSP as sure the policemen that the husbands of these three women would be handed over to police in return of their release.
On June 5, 1983, the police took into custody Koka, Bahadur, Ranjit, Kidar Nath Tiwari, Ram Niwas Pehalwan, Ramwanti and Narasingh P. Mishra besides seizing Koka’s mule and cart. All of them were allegedly beaten up in the Sarabha Nagar police station. Besides, the police wrested Rs 2400 from Ranjit, Rs 4500 from Mishra, Rs 200 from Ram Niwas and Rs 1100 from Kidar Nath.
By next day, all except Koka, Bahadur and Ranjit, had been sent home. They were detained at different places including Dugri and Haibowal police posts and repeatedly tortured. The family, which was asked to pay up Rs 20,000 could collect only Rs 15000 resulting in the release of Bahadur and Ranjit about 25 days later.
Meanwhile, under the supervision of Inspector Narinder Nath, Koka was starved and severely thrashed after being hung upside down from the ceiling. Consequently, his limbs became numb and he started vomiting blood. Parminder Mehta, president of the city Youth Congress, Rakesh Panday, Congress MLA, and Sat Pal Gosain, BJP MLA, tried to secure his release but only got the assurance that he would be released shortly after his health improved. Later, however, the police told his relatives that he had disappeared. The inquiry magistrate, recorded statements of 13 eyewitnesses to establish the detentions, the torture and the eventual disappearance’ of Koka who as not been traced so far. Ho has recommended another more exhaust Live inquiry to ascertain how and where the body of the police victim was disposed of. He has also pleaded for suitable compensation to the widow belonging to a poor Sansi family.
Though all the cops, whose statements were recorded by the inquiry officer flatly deny having over resorted to these detentions and tortured, the police conduct itself has strengthened the charges leveled against the force.
Talwar sent 13 officials summons last year to the accused policemen to come and depose before him. Then the District Magistrate, Sarwan Singh Channy, wrote five more semi-official letters to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Hardip Singh Dhillon. The police resorted to delaying tactics and the standard response to all these letters and summons was that the summoned officials could not appear on the specified dates, being preoccupied with law and order, inspection or VIP duly. It was only after great persistence that they turned up to make identical statements
The magisterial inquiry was sought by the aggrieved family after failing to get justice.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1995
