Punjab CM orders inquiry into cops who thrashed girl, family

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has ordered a magisterial inquiry into a shocking incident where a number of policemen in Taran Taran were filmed brutally thrashing a woman who had come there to complain of sexual harassment. The incident, which was caught on camera, has triggered massive outrage, and also led to the suspension of two of the policemen. Another two are under investigation. In addition to thrashing the girl with lathis, the policemen also severely beat up her father and elder brother who were with her at the time of the incident. [caption id=“attachment_648764” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Screengrab of the shocking video[/caption] Speaking to CNN-IBN, the girl said that the policemen had humiliated her and told her to “come to the police station so we can show you what molestation really is”. Television images showed severe bruising on the backs of the male family members, who were beaten on the road and also inside the police station. The family has said that criminal charges need to be pressed against the policemen, and also want the involved personnel to be dismissed from the force. “I demand respect for my turban and justice - for physical violence and the way my daughter was humiliated in front of the entire world. They should be immediately suspended”, said the father of the woman to the Times Now television channel. Meanwhile the policemen have said that the girl and her family had attacked them first. There were around 17 police personnel present at the time of the incident. One officer said that father of the girl, Kashmir Singh was drunk and creating “nuisance” at a marriage function at Gobindwal road last night. When police personnel reached the spot and caught hold of Kashmir, his daughter resisted, the SSP said. Kashmir’s daughter intervened and resisted while her father was being taken away to police station, the SSP said. In the melee, the turbans (head gears) of two head constables were fell off following which they beat the girl. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asked DGP Sumedh Singh to take strict action against the police personnel. He said that it was imperative for every member of Punjab Police force to act in a disciplined and professional manner and reiterated zero tolerance towards any misconduct especially towards women. Badal said that since last four years he was making efforts to ensure gender sensitisation among police personnel, besides increasing the strength of women in the police force. The Deputy CM said that strict action would be taken against those found guilty and said that nobody was above the law. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Sunil Kumar Jakhar condemned the incident and attacked the Parkash Singh Badal government for its alleged failure on law and order front. “A goonda raj is prevailing in Punjab,” he alleged.