SHO suspended, SAD leader arrested in land grab case; Role of Muktsar DSP, former India hockey player, under scanner

SHO suspended, SAD leader arrested in land grab case

Role of Muktsar DSP, former India hockey player, under scanner

The conspiracy

• Pal Singh of Chuhad Chak Vadha village alleges that his brother-in-law Kaku Singh of Rupana village is mentally unfit
• He claims that the joint ancestral land of Kaku and his sisters is being cultivated by Kaku’s cousin Darshan Singh
• Pal alleges Darshan wanted the land to be transferred in Kaku’s name with the sisters not being given any share
• He further states that, therefore, Darshan abducted Kaku’s sister Tirpal Kaur
• Darshan Singh claims to be innocent
• He alleges SAD leader Baljeet Singh “Pinder Sarpanch” attempted to grab the land of his cousin Kaku Singh

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 23

The functioning of Muktsar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), City, Kanwalpreet Chahal, a former India hockey player, has reportedly come under the scanner in a case of land grab. Gurinderjit Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), city police station, has been suspended and local SAD leader Baljeet Singh “Pinder Sarpanch” arrested in the case. Bajleet has been sent to judicial remand for 14 days.

Muktsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kuldeep Chahal said the SHO was suspended for having mala fide intention in a land-grab case. “The SHO didn’t verify the facts and registered a kidnapping case against some persons. DSP Kanwalpreet’s role has also come under the scanner. An inquiry has been marked to SP (H) and SP (D) Muktsar. Further, we have arrested the man who planned to grab the land in Rupana village,” said the SSP. He further said the DSP was on ex-India leave and that the inquiry officer would record his statement upon his return.

On the basis of the investigation report of Superintendent of Police (H) Narinderpal Singh, Pinder Sarpanch has been arrested. He is also facing charges of attempt to murder.

“The preliminary investigations suggested that Pinder had planned to grab some agricultural land near a paper mill in Rupana village. The DSP is said to be a close friend of his. The DSP had directed the SHO to register a case against three persons at City Muktsar police station,” said the SSP.

On reports that the accused DSP directed the SHO to register the case after discussing the matter with senior officers, the SSP said they were verifying the facts. He said the police were getting a number of complaints related to land grabbing against Pinder.

A senior police officer said many land-grab cases were expected to be unearthed now. “We are suspecting two-three more persons to be involved in the case,” he added.

The police registered a case of kidnapping on May 7 against three persons, including two brothers Darshan Singh, Balwinder Singh of Muktsar town and Baljeet Kaur of Rupana village on the complaint of Pal Singh of Chuhad Chak Vadha village in Moga district. The complainant had alleged that his brother-in-law Kaku Singh of Rupana village was mentally unfit and the joint ancestral land of Kaku and his sisters was being cultivated by Kaku’s cousin Darshan Singh. He alleged Darshan wanted the land to be transferred in Kaku’s name with the sisters not being given any share. Pal further alleged that, therefore, Darshan abducted Kaku’s sister Tirpal Kaur. On the other hand, Darshan Singh approached the SSP, claiming to be innocent.

Courtesy: The Tribune