| ASP comes to rescue of "guilty" Mendhar SDPO | | Used his good offices to influence torture victims, their families for a compromise with DSP | | Bharat Bhushan
Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 23: Booked by police in a case of misappropriation of government ration, CAPD employees - wayman Fazal Hussain and storekeeper Mohammad Kabir - were allegedly tortured by Mendhar SDPO Surinder Choudhary on May 18 last in his office. Their fault: In their statements to police, they were alleged to have named Mendhar TSO (tehsil supply officer) Abdul Khaliq as an accused in the case.
Fazal's one tooth was broken while Kabir had developed severe problem in his urinary tract. Both were hospitalised.
CAPD ration was seized by police when it was being unloaded in a school master's shop at Ari, Mendhar, about two weeks ago. Fazal and Kabir were placed under suspension and put behind the bars.
Though Khaliq too was suspended, he was not called by police for his questioning. The reports that poured in later suggested that he had gone underground. As investigation in the case moved on, he had a "closed door" meeting with police but he was not arrested. Since then there has been no trace of him. He is said to be politically well connected.
The families of Fazal and Kabir said since clandestine efforts were on to save the TSO, the duo were allegedly called by SDPO Surinder Choudhary to his office in Mendhar town on May 18 at 4 pm and freed at 8 pm. Fazal had then walked home with a broken tooth and Kabir with a problem in his urinary tract. Both of them had to be hospitalised.
They later alleged that the police officer repeatedly asked them to give their statement in favour of the TSO. When they refused, they were subjected to unprecedented torture, they alleged.
While people held anti-SDPO demonstrations in the town, Poonch ADC Mumtaz Choudhary ordered a judicial probe into the incident and appointed ACR, Poonch, Shafiq Ahmad and additional SP, Poonch, Amit Gupta as inquiry officers. Though they were to submit the inquiry report within two days, they had yet not completed the probe, according to police sources.
But during these six days, the ASP did the commendable job of saving the SDPO. Instead of focussing on the inquiry, he yesterday convened two meetings and used his good offices to convince the victims and their families for a patch up with the "guilty" police officer. The meetings were boycotted by the angered people.
Today also, the ASP called a meeting which was attended by the families of the victims, SDPO Choudhary and DSP Sagar Singh Slathia. The emphasis was again on the compromise and police succeeded in their endeavour.
SDPO Choudhary hugged Fazal, who too was present in the meeting, and apologised for his behaviour. He also apologised to Kabir, who was still undergoing treatment in the hospital, on phone.
Though all is well that ends well, there is one big question which ASP ought to answer. Would he have arranged such meetings had a civilian broken the tooth of a DSP or any other policeman. Perhaps not. Under such a situation, the culprit would have been given the worst treatment by police. |
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