In a strongly worded letter to the Batala senior superintendent of police (SSP), Congress state legislator from Dera Baba Nanak Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has accused him of going soft on the Kotli Surat Malhi station house officer (SHO), against whom he said the SSP has enough evidence warranting his suspension.
The development comes a few days after Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh stormed the police station here after local party workers complained to him about the SHO pressurising them to join the Akali Dal. Although the SHO was absent, Capt spoke to the SSP, Daljinder Singh Dhillon, and narrated the plight of Congressmen to him.
Randhawa, who is also the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) vice-president, stated in his letter that he and one of the victims had already filed a complaint with the SSP and Punjab director general of police, seeking action against SHO Manjeet Singh, but he (SSP) was shielding the cop.
SSP Dhillon, however, has claimed he had not received any complaint of “highhandedness” against the SHO, and thus he denied action against him, as demanded by Capt on October 13 during his visit to the village.
“I want to remind the SSP that Amrik Singh of Hawalian village under the Kotli Surat Malhi police station had lodged a complaint with the SSP that SHO Manjeet Singh was forcing him to join Akali Dal. Failing to get any justice, I along with Amrik Singh approached the DGP, Punjab, on September 15 and in my presence, the DGP called the SSP on phone to take action in this regard and also marked any inquiry,” alleged Randhawa.
{{/usCountry}}“I want to remind the SSP that Amrik Singh of Hawalian village under the Kotli Surat Malhi police station had lodged a complaint with the SSP that SHO Manjeet Singh was forcing him to join Akali Dal. Failing to get any justice, I along with Amrik Singh approached the DGP, Punjab, on September 15 and in my presence, the DGP called the SSP on phone to take action in this regard and also marked any inquiry,” alleged Randhawa.
{{/usCountry}}Instead of taking action against the accused cop, the police threatened to register a case against the complainant’s son if he did not withdraw his complaint, he alleged. Accusing the SSP of working under the pressure of Akali leaders, Randhawa “requested” him to fix a board with the sticker “Proud to be Akali” outside his office.