Thrashing of elderly woman by cop: Rights panel seeks report

BATHINDA: The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has sought a report from the state government in connection with the thrashing of an elderly Dalit woman by a cop during use of force against protesting workers of a brick kiln in Sukhanand village in the district on August 25.

Taking suo motu notice of a report published in HT in this regard, the commission has asked the government to submit a report on the matter through additional chief secretary, home, and the Bathinda senior superintendent of police by October 14.

Jasvir Kaur, in her sixties, was slapped repeatedly by a cop and pulled on the ground by her hair when the police resorted to use of force on the workers, demanding release of their “salary dues” from the brick kiln owners.

A video of the incident shows Jasvir trying to set free a protester from cops while using a small stick on a cop. Also, protesters are seen trying to stop the cops by holding their batons. The video shows a cop slapping Jasvir repeatedly and pulling her down on the ground while a male protester is being pushed in a police vehicle.

Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh said the protesting workers had also resorted to stone pelting on the police force, resulting in injuries to two cops. He, however, said he does not justify the use of force and slapping and pulling of a woman by the hair.

Two cops , sub-inspector Beera Singh and assistant sub-inspector Kuldeep Singh, have already been suspended while a departmental inquiry has been initiated against Dialpura SHO inspector Jasvir Singh. Bathinda deputy commissioner Praneet has also ordered a probe into the matter by the sub-divisional magistrate, Rampura Phul.

On Jasvir’s complaint, the police on Wednesday booked two brothers who are owners of the brick kiln, Mintu Garg and Keshav, under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Sections 374 (unlawful compulsory labour), 506 (criminal intimidation), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 323 (voluntary causing hurt) of the IPC.

JASVIR WAS SLAPPED BY A COP AND PULLED ON GROUND BY HER HAIR DURING PROTEST BY BRICK KILN WORKERS IN BATHINDA ON SEPT 25