Mob attacks Chandigarh police party to free wanted criminal
Assault on Khaki: SHO, sub-inspector, home guards volunteer injured, hotel, police vehicles damaged in Kajheri; 12 arrested
A Chandigarh Police party that was patrolling in Kajheri village, Sector 52, was attacked after it caught a wanted criminal roaming in the area on Wednesday night.
Three policemen, including station house officer, Sector 36 police station, inspector Naseeb Singh, in-charge of Sector 61 police post, sub-inspector Om Prakash, and a Home Guards volunteer Sanjeev, sustained injuries. The mob also vandalised a hotel in Sector 52 in which the police team had taken shelter. Four vehicles, including two of police, were also damaged.
Police have arrested 12 people, including seven women after registering a case for rioting, voluntary causing hurt and deterring a public servant from discharging his duties and Section 54 and 59 of the Arms Act and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act at the Sector 36 police station.
“We have arrested one Joginder Singh, who is Aam Aadmi Party leader for leading the attack on the police team,” said the SHO.
The trouble began when the police party saw Vikas Paul, alias Bhola, who is wanted in more than 10 cases, on his bike in the area. As the police party tried to apprehend him, he pulled out a knife and tried to stab the sub-inspector. In the process, the SI received a deep cut in his hand.
The Sector 36 police was looking for Vikas since September last year when he robbed a man after stabbing him.
Though Vikas was overpowered, his mother Videshi and her daughter started pelting police with stones. To save themselves and ensure that the accused does not flee, the cops took shelter in a nearby hotel. By then the news of Vikas being apprehended had spread.
His maternal uncle Joginder Singh, who claims to be an AAP leader, along with a group of around 20 people, attacked the police party with sticks and sharp-edged weapons.
Sensing trouble, the cops called the police control room for reserve force. But the mob went on a rampage and damaged the hotel, a vehicle of reserve police team as well as a PCR Gypsy.
“The reserve force also fled from the spot after seeing mob on the rampage, while the three cops remained trapped inside the hotel with the accused,” said a Sector 52 resident, who did not wished to be named.
Another resident who was witness to the incident said: “As soon as the windscreen of the police vehicle was broken, the reserve force fled. Finding no help coming, the cops retaliated but by then the mob had managed to set Vikas free.”
Vikas was arrested on Thursday from Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, where he was undergoing treatment after being freed by the mob.
Police also arrested his uncle Joginder, mother Videshi, 50, Muskan, 18, Babli, 38, Komal, 21, Nancy,19, Satnam Singh, 39, Sham Sunder, 33 all residents of Kajheri, Gori, 19, of Nayagaon and Bittu Rana, 26, and Dolly, 27, of Dhanas. All have been sent to judicial custody.