Suspend cop for removing man’s turban: Sikh outfits

Moga, 5 Oct:

Various Sikh organisations today demanded that Inspector Prem Bhangu, in charge of the CIA staff, be booked for allegedly thrashing former councillor Sukhwinder Azad and removing his turban in a market in broad daylight.

The protesters passed through the streets, raising slogans against the Akali leadership for allegedly shielding corrupt police officers. The incident occurred when the police cane-charged Sikh activists as they were trying to shut down shops in the city on September 30.

They had called a bandh to protest the Akal Takht’s decision to pardon Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Manjit Malla SAD (A) secretary alleged the Moga police did not issue any warning before cane-charging them.

He alleged no magistrate was present on the spot either. They then gave a memorandum to District Magistrate Parminder Gill. Victim Azad alleged the police officer singled him out and thrashed him with a stick.

“The Inspector not only removed my turban, but also threw it on the ground,” he alleged. The former councillor is a confidant of Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh. Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, chief of AISSF, said, “The Inspector should be immediately arrested and removed from the post.”