SANGRUR: Resentment prevails in the rank and file of the police force against a senior police officer for allegedly beating up two subordinates on April 20 Incidentally the Senior Superintendent of Police Jasminder Singh who has all along ‘been hailed as a model police officer is himself embroided in the ‘unseemly controversy.
‘The Situation was reportedly saved by the SSP. regretting the incident ‘when the entire kotwali staff went on a pen-down strike following beating up of ASI Harbans Singh by the SSP.
‘The hostility among the lower staff ‘could be gauged from the instant registration of a report against the SSP narrating the sequence of events in the daily diary report register (DDR). The reopen was entered by Jarnail Singh the munshi of the police situation. On the same day entire staff of the Kotwali was transferred to other police stations including the SHO R.S. Brar. A senior officer at ‘Chandigarh who did not want to be identified said that the incident had ‘been blown out of proportion on account of an intrigue against Jasminder Singh who is a straight forward officer. He had been instrumental in taking disciplinary action against two senior officers of the SPs rank and some of their relatives and associates within the force who harbor a grudge have a visited interest in fanning the trivial incident he added.
According to the D D R Jasminder Singh came on a routine checking to the police station at 6:40 a.m. along with DSP Devinder Singh. He asked the ASI Harbans Singh and Jarnail Singh to lie prostrate on the ground and started beating them with a Patta (belt) in full view of the constabulary at the police station. ASI Harbans Singh got himself medically examined at the Government Civil Hospital wherein the doctor recorded blue marks on his hips.
Sources said that the SSP got angry two policemen when they were found absent from duty by DSP Devinder Singh earlier.
The DDR states that the DSP had tried to restrain the SSP saying do not humiliate the subordinates. But the SSP pushed him aside and went ahead with his third degree methods. All this went on when the policemen were wearing their uniforms and SSP was in civil dress. Enquires reveal that though there is considerable resentment against the officer on account of the incident most of the people were tight-lipped as any show of ill-will could be constructed as insubordination SSP Jasminder Singh refused to entertain any queries on the issue saying As far as l am concerned have not even met you.
Meanwhile in Jammu another incident of beating up of policemen and kidnapping two of them by Army men took place at the lake resort of Mansar 60 km from here on May 8.
A case has been registered by the ‘Udhampur police against two Army officers and 21 jawans for creating nuisance at public place assaulting ‘and kidnapping public servants.
Meanwhile the Army authorities in the Northern Command Udhampur have ordered an inquiry into the alleged beating up incident.
According to police officials two Army officers with their families had gone for a picnic at the tourist resort. Exchange of hot words followed between policemen and Army men when the latter insisted on taking drinks while boating police officials claimed.
On the other hand Army officials $aid that policemen misbehaved with Amy officers and detained one of them in police station. But later on nearly 20 to 25 Army Jawans who had also gone to the lake for outing beat up policemen including the chowki officer.
Mohammed Yusuf Bhatt a police photographer who had also gone to Mansar along with his family tied to intervene in the dispute was also beaten up.
Later Army men picked up Mohammed Yusuf Bhatt and Ram Lal a constable along in their vehicles. ‘The SSP Udhampur rushed to Mansar in the evening to look into the matter
A case was registered against the Army men.
Senior police officers have taken up the matter with Army officials.
According to an Army spokesman from Northern Command here seven Army personnel had gone to Mansar carrying any liquor when the tourist ‘officer was approached to hire the boats. Only one officer had gone to the tourist office to hire three boats for himself and other officers. The tourist officer not only neglected his request but even used abusive language knowing well that he was conversing with an Army officer He further said that no Army officer involved in the scuffle was under the influence of liquor as alleged. This seems to have been added to cover the high headedness of police personnel involved.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 13, 1994
