CHANDIGARH: Decrying the atrocities perpetrated on the women in the country, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Feb. 22, ordered the three accused police officers in the “Jebkatri” case be pat to trial.
A Division Bench ising Mr. Justice G’S. Singhvi and Mr. Justice S.S. Sudhalkar directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBM) to acute the then SP Mr, Sukhdev Sin; Chinna, SI Nerinderpal Singh and ASI Kamaljit Singh, all of Amritsar police, The Special Judicial Magistrate Patiala, Mr, Balbir Sin; has been asked to complete the preferably within six months, Ms. Parmeshwari and three others had alleged in a writ petition earlier that they were picked up by the Amritsar police from the bus stand when they were on their way to pay obeisance to a Gurdwarain Tam Taran in 1994, They were allegedly detained illegally and tortured by the police and charged with stealing the purse of a lady, They were produced before the judicial magistrate with a direction to keep their foreheads covered since the world “jebkatri” had been tattooed.
The High Court had granted them Interim compensation of Rs 50,000 each and ordered plastic surgery at the government expense.
In a seven page order the judges noted “if allegations are proved, it would be one of the most glaring atrocities against women.” Recalling the “Tandoor murder case” the court observed that dowry deaths, gang Tapes, torture and molestation had become the order of the day, adding that these instances must make the society hang its head in shame.
The judges said that in some the country polies had virtually become synonymous with state terrorism, the police had been found to using “third” and even “fourth” degree methods for its ends.
Mr. R.K. Handa, counsel for the CBI was directed to immediately present the challan against the accused to facilitate a speedy trail.
The court also directed the government to constitute a board of doctors to see if the tattoo marks on the fore heads of the women had disappeared of not.
The women are residents of Bagrian village in Sangrur district. The tattooing case had invited international scorn especially by the women organizations.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 28, 1996
