Police book agitators for protesting against its inaction

In an ironical case, the Shahkot police have booked protesters who gheroed the local police station in protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the area.

The protesters had accused the local police of laxity and inaction after some armed men created a mayhem on August 21 in the market.

The attackers had assaulted shopkeepers in the market including a couple of BJP councillors. But instead of taking action against the offenders, the police have registered a case against those who were protesting against the incident.

Station house officer (SHO), Shahkot, Prem Kumar said the case had been registered on the statement of sub-inspector Rajeev Kumar against some unidentified persons.

They have been accused of obstructing the public servant from performing his duties. The SHO said the police were investigating the case and would arrest the involved persons in the crime.
The police move has irked the locals who have been ruing about the deteriorating law and order situation in the area.

Jagmohan Dabur, a BJP councillor from Shahkot Nagar panchayat, was one of the victims in the incident. He termed the police move as ridiculous. "They are resorting to pressure tactics. They are trying to scare us," he said.

Dabur said they were left with no option but to protest against the police inaction to express their anger. "The police were trying to falsely implicate innocent persons so that they do not protest against them," he said.

Another BJP councillor Jagdish Wadhera said: "The attack on the shopkeepers took place due to the police laxity. Apprehending disturbance, I had asked the SHO to send police personnel to the spot about 20 minutes before the attack took place. However, four policemen sent to the spot spent merely five minutes there and left. The police's negligent attitude was responsible for the incident. And now they are trying to stop people from protesting against it."

Three persons-Wadhera, Dabur and Sanjeev Kumar-were injured in the attack.

The attackers had poured hot cooking oil on the back of Sanjeev Kumar.

Following the incident, the angry protesters had blocked the Shahkot-Jalandhar road and gheroed the police station. The protesters also had had heated exchanges with the police.

Wadhera said the police had booked seven persons in the case but had arrested only one.