Punjab: Victims of violence protest against police’s ‘inaction’

Punjab: Hundreds of men and women today staged a sit-in outside City-1 police station demanding action as Abohar police failed to make any arrests in the attack on lab technician Devi Lal by armed miscreants who barged into his house at Birbal Dhani, seven kilometres from here, on Wednesday night. Traffic remained disrupted on the Abohar-Malout road and vehicles had to be diverted to other lanes. The protesters were joined by several political leaders and representatives of BKU (Khosa), who were demanding the immediate arrest of the attackers. MLA Sandeep Jakhar had earlier met the victim’s family on Thursday and urged the police administration to take action. Devi Lal said the winner in the sarpanch election had come to his brother’s house to thank him for the support but the opposition group reportedly could not digest it. He said some miscreants forcefully barged into his house on Wednesday night and vandalised it and also damaged cars. His family members saved their lives by hiding in the store room. The Abohar police had registered a case under sections 331, 115(2), 199(3), 190, 61(2) and 35(2) of the Indian Penal Code. However, the FIR only names Rajpal Singh Bhatti of Dhani Daanewala, while the complainant has identified more than half a dozen miscreants. The complainant alleged that the police administration was trying to save the suspects under political pressure. Former state BJP vice-president Dhanpat Siyag, secretary convener Vandana Sangwal and sarpanch of Burjmuhar Colony Amandeep Singh Dhaliwal also expressed solidarity with the protesters. Former Abohar Municipal Council president Shivraj Goyal said that none of the miscreants against whom cases were registered in connection with the recently held panchayat elections have been arrested yet, which shows the poor law and order situation. Babal Buttar and Sona Singh of BKU (Khosa) said that the police should take strict action against all the attackers. Deputy Superintendent of Police (rural) Tejinder Pal Singh reached the spot and asked the victim to talk to SSP Varinder Singh Brar over the phone. The SSP said that action will be ensured within the next 48 hours. After examining the CCTV footage, action will be taken against all the suspects.