3 Dalit kids thrashed by cops: Child rights panel seeks report

MOGA: Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Monday sought a report from district child protection officer (DCPO), Moga, in an incident, where three children of a poor Dalit family were allegedly beaten up by the police at the Ajitwal police station, suspecting them of stealing mobile phones.

The commission deputy director Rajwinder Singh Gill has issued a notice to district social security, women and child development office and sought a report.

He said the matter came to his notice through media reports last week.

Father of the children, Jagjit Singh, a labourer, gave a written complaint to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harmanbir Singh Gill, demanding legal action against station house officer Jaswinder Singh and assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Balwinder Singh.

“The ASI took my three children, removed their clothes and beat them up in the lock-up. My wife reached there and saw all this. The cops also beat her up,” he alleged.

Moga DCPO Paramjit Kaur said, “We have called the victim children on Tuesday for inquiry. The department will provide all the necessary help to the family and legal aid, if required,” she added.

The SSP has also ordered deputy superintendent of police Manmohan Singh Aulakh to investigate the matter.

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The ASI took my three children, removed their clothes and beat them up in the lock-up. My wife reached there and saw all this. The cops also thrashed her.

JAGJIT SINGH, father of the children

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We have called the victim children on Tuesday for inquiry. The department will provide all the necessary help to the family and legal aid, if required.

PARAMJIT KAUR, Moga district child protection officer