Accused cops dent force's image

MOHALI: Residents of the city might find it hard to trust the police as many cops here have been arrested for being involved in heinous crimes like kidnapping and extortion.
During the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, Mohali police had received a complaint that a chemist in Phase IX, Amandeep Singh, alias Sonu, had been abducted by five unidentified persons in a car.Police were able to find the victim after a some raids near Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Phase VIII. The victim reportedly told cops one of the five abductors was Ripudaman Singh, a constable posted in Phase-VIII police station.
A case was registered on Wednesday under sections 365 (kidnapping), 384 (extortion) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
Earlier this year, a sub-inspector of Punjab Police, Faqir Chand, wanted in a case of extortion since August last year, was nabbed in Ludhiana. He allegedly used to trap victims with the help of call girls and then blackmail them.
Mohali police had booked him under section 389 (causing fear for extortion) and 120 (B) of IPC. Though he was suspended after a criminal case was registered, Chand was reinstated shortly after that.
It was on August 29 that Ruby, a woman in her 20s hailing from Haridwar, and a Patiala-based gym owner Gurmeet Singh were arrested while outside a hotel in Phase-I in this connection while the extortion gang's alleged kingpin Vanita reportedly gave the police a slip along with Chand.
Talking about accused cops, Citizen's Welfare Federation president B S Tej, said, ''How can we feel safe in a place where law's protectors themselves are committing crimes. Senior officials should take strict action against the perpetrators to make it an example for other such policemen.''
Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, ''These cops have brought shame to the department. They should have shown better sense. The law would not spare the guilty.'