As hundreds of fortified followers of a tone- nominated religious dominie overran a police station in Punjab’s Amritsar in dramatic scenes of lawlessness on Thursday, the police exercised restraint because they didn’t want to let the situation get out of hand, a elderly functionary has told NDTV. The police stood down because the bushwhackers, armed with ordnance and brands and demanding the release of one of their arrested associates, were also carrying a Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, elderly polce officer Harpal Singh Randhawa said.
” What happed history shouldn’t have happed. Punjab Police didn’t avenge because Amritpal( Singh) had brought Guru Granth Sahib withhim.However, effects would have gone amiss, If we had redressed. We admired Guru Granth Sahib,” he said. ” Amritpal had earlier said that he’d hold only peaceful dharna. But he cheated us. His men attacked the Punjab Police. But we didn’t avenge at each because Guru Granth Sahib was in front. I would like to laud the Punjab Police labor force who didn’t avenge,” Mr Randhawa said.
” There’s a rule of law in Punjab. Amritpal isn’t above thelaw.However, the situation could have worsened across Punjab, If we had taken indeed a little action. We did what we saw fit. Whatever happedhistory, action will be taken according to the law,” the police officer added. Mr Randhawa rejected review that Thursday’s police response would buoy those like Amritpal Singh who have called for a separate nation of Sikhs called Khalistan and that it was a sign of weakening law and order under the state’s Aam Aadmi Party( AAP) government.
” No Khalistani movement is going to be in Punjab. People of Punjab, Punjab Police have finished terrorism from Punjab. These are roughly bad guys. Amritpal is being called wrong far and wide moment. We want to assure the whole country that there’s rule of law in Punjab,” he said. He also said the police case against Lovepreet Toofan Singh, the assistant of Amritpal Singh whose arrest touched off the mob fury, has not been dropped.” An SIT( Special Investigation Team) has been formed, everyone’s part will be delved ,” Mr Randhawa said.
opining on the incident, Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, told news agency ANI,” People of Pjab should have faith in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to maintain law and order in the state.” His assurance came as the Punjab Police blazoned Toofan Singh was released grounded on” enough evidence” of his innocence handed by the members of the mob a day agone
Police had arrested Toofan Singh for allegedly abducting and beating up a man. He’s a member of the Amritpal Singh- led’ Waris Punjab De’ organisation that was innovated by actor and activist Deep Sidhu who failed in a road accident in February last time.
