BATALA: While the Prime Minister is ostensibly strengthening the panchayati raj institution the Batala police are wrecking havoc on the sarpanches.
Encouraged by the clean chit given by Punjab Governor SS. Ray after the hullabaloo three months ago, when a dozen sarpanches had complained in writing about the Batala police chief Gobind Ram roughing them up, the police, between April 21 and 23, have given a repeat performance. Curiously, the incident went unreported because of the fear of further “retribution.”
Sarpanches of at least three villages, Bachan Singh of Wadala Granthian Gurdip Singh of Talwandi and Mukhwant Singh of Bahluwal have made themselves unavailable to both officials and the pressmen. Bachan Singh literally ran away into the fields when India Week traced him to his village. I have nothing to say, he said repeatedly with folded hands.
According to information gathered from different sources, the latest incident of maltreatment occurred when on April 21, the deputy commissioner Gurdaspur sent a message that he would address the public meeting at Wadala granthian the same evening. However, because the police had used the last such occasion to beat up villagers no one attended the function. Meanwhile a poster announcing the “bhog” ceremony of dreaded Dr, Gurnam Singh Buttar killed by the police, was put up in the market place. Within minutes the market place wore a deserted look. When the DC arrived except for Bachan and Gurdip no one was present, After the D.C. departed police posse arrived and took away Bachan Gurdip, Mukhwant Singh and the owner of tent house retired subedar Didar Singh and his two sons. Mukhwant was reportedly beaten up severely during the three day detention and had to be hospitalized after his release.
“There is no question of our contesting any panchayat elections,” said a sarpanch who wished to remain anonymous. “Here a sarpanch is only useful as a target for police wrath. We pray that the mantle of sarpanch is passed on to someone else.”
Gobind Ram when asked about the incident refused to comment. But a senior civil servant said the incident took place because no action was taken against Gobind Ram who has more men to guard him than the Punjab police chief KPS. Gill. He said that the inquiry by the DIG (Border Range) Sarabjit Singh clearly brought out that the 13 instances relating to Gobind Ram. In at least three the police had committed excesses.
There is also deep resentment among the Congress I leaders of the area. One by one (Ram) has humbled us all so that we are forced to support him,” said a senior Congressman. First, he raided the licensed liquor vends of former Youth Congress] president of Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa. Then, the arrested Parkash Singh sarpanch of Tehtherke village who is a close aide of former Punjab Pradesh Congress President Santokh Singh Randhawa. Last fortnight he detained former Congress
I district general secretary Tripat ‘Rajinder Singh for alleged links with freedom’ fighters. He was released after there was a noisy demonstration.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 2, 1989
