PATIALA: While the district authorities have ordered an inquiry by the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate into an accident of intrusion by policemen in plain clothes in the girls hostel of Government State College of Education here the college authorities have decided to mobilize and challenge the police action.

The principal wrote to the principals of all local colleges and women’s organizations in the city attended a meeting on May 25 to chalk out a strategy to launch a mass movement in protest.

Gurbhajneek Singh SDM Started an inquiry into the incident on the basis of a written complaint of the principal and warden of the hostel.

Jaswant Kaur Sidhu told ENS that four policemen in plain clothes had entered the hostel after scaling the main gate and had broken open locks of certain rooms. According to her the cops did not consult the hostel warden. They allegedly beat up the chowkidar and his two daughters She alleged that the policemen who were “dead drunk” also used abusive language against the girls who tried to stop them.

The principal along with the girl’s representatives met the deputy commissioner and the girls also held a day-long dharna near the deputy commissioner’s office.

The girls were celebrating the birthday of one of their friends when the policemen knocked on the door of the room and asked the girls to open their rooms.

The girls said they were panic-stricken and hid in the lavatory when some of the policemen attempted to misbehave with them.

They said the policemen also tried to forcibly break open the door of the hostel warden’s residence.

College authorities have mentioned in the memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner that the girls were so frightened that they were prepared to jump from the first floor of the hostel had things got worse.

The police have so far not come forward with an explanation. The girls have reportedly identified one of the policemen and informed police and civil authorities.

The college authorities said a few other uniformed policemen who reached the hostel soon after the incident had escorted the plain-clothed policemen in their vehicle.

The College is considering postponing the annual exams.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1992