Raid on OSD’s office: Congress leaders now demand FIR against cops

AMRITSAR: Congress leaders in Amritsar are baying for the blood of the police officials who conducted a raid at the camp office of chief minister Amarinder Singh in the city. So far, two cops have already been suspended for raiding the office of CM’s officer on special duty (OSD). But the party leaders want an FIR to be filed against “all erring police officials”.
A day after an SHO and inspector of CIA wing were suspended, the focus seemed to be shifting to a DCP.“The CM has already taken action against the officials involved in the incident but we recommend lodging an FIR against them — senior or junior, no one should be spared,” said Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu after holding a meeting with Congress MLAs here on Saturday.
“Even slightest attempt to ignore the elected MLAs will not be tolerated and the chief minister has taken a strong exception to the incident. A loud and clear message has been given,” he said.
On June 15, a police party while searching for a suspect wanted in a case of theft of cement bags had raided the office of Sandeep Singh Bawa, OSD to CM, at his camp office in the PWD rest house. The cops had a verbal duel with some of the office-bearers of the party.
An SHO and a member of the CIA were suspended following the raid and an inquiry marked to IG of Bathinda zone. The incident triggered a sharp reaction from the Congress, who blamed some police officers for following diktats of SAD leaders and demanded strict action against them and their superiors who had given instructions for it.
“I have no idea why they came and what they were looking for,” said Sandhu, adding that the police party was accompanied by a sitting Akali municipal councillor and a union leader. He said anyone could come to the office of the OSD to CM with their issues.
Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla said that, “The chief minister had given orders to suspend DCP Amarjit Singh Bajwa in my presence.” He added that the police officials must know that they couldn’t ignore or terrorize Congress workers.
On the other hand, Amritsar commissioner of police S S Srivastava said that he had suspended Gate Hakima SHO Harvinder Singh and CIA staff member Arvinder Singh. “I have no orders about suspension of the DCP,” he added.
He said that the additional chief secretary for home Nirmaljit Singh Kalsi had also arrived in Amritsar to get first-hand information about the incident.
Meanwhile, Sidhu said that there were almost two lakh voters behind every elected MLA and the officers of Amritsar should understand that all legislators and MPs were together and wouldn’t tolerate illegal entry of police in the houses of elected representatives.