ASI's family alleges victimisation in Patiala gangrape; names 2 BJP leaders

Saturday, 19/01/2013

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/ASI_s-family-alleges-victimisation-in-Patiala-gangrape_-names-2-BJP-leaders.html

PATIALA: The family members of the dismissed Assistant Sub Inspector of Punjab Police Nasib Singh on Saturday alleged that he was being victimised and made a scapegoat in the entire episode while those actually responsible were being let off. The family members alleged that it was actually under political pressure, and named two BJP leaders, that he had let off the accused, thus providing more ammunition to the opposition that the police was working too much under the pressure of the ruling party.

The family members told Punjabnewsline that the ASI, who was heading the Badshahpur police post falling under Gagga police station, had detained the two main accused in the case twice but had been forced to let them off by his seniors who apparently were acting at the behest of two local BJP leaders.

The family members said when the victim approached the ASI with the complaint he duly registered it and detained the main accused Balwinder and Aman immediately. However, the family members claimed, he was asked by his senior officers, particularly the SHO Gagga, to release them immediately and he had no option but to obey his seniors.

The family members, who are also planning to stage a protest dharna alongwith the members of their community, alleged that Nasib Singh was being victimised since he belonged to a downtrodden community and nobody was there to speak for him. They asked, how it could be possible for a junior level official like him to release the accused in a serious offence like rape without his seniors’ orders.

The Punjab government has already dismissed Nasib Singh, besides the SHO Gagga Gurcharan Singh and DSP Patran, Harpreet Singh under whose jurisdiction the Badshahpur police post fell. While they were dismissed for inaction and dereliction of duty, Nasib Singh was also booked for abetment to suicide and is since in jail.

The family members are demanding an independent inquiry into the whole episode as they allege there was another boy who had also consumed poison alongwith the victim and he had also been admitted to Rajindera Hospital, Patiala. It said, the police should also probe his link with the case as some more details about the incident will come out.

The ASI’s family has named two BJP leaders from Patiala who allegedly “pressurised” the police to release the main accused in the case. The family members claimed that it was actually Nasib Singh who had arrested the main accused and still he was allegedly being victimised.