Punjab: Local BJP leader arrested for assaulting cop

Phagwara, Apr 8: A local BJP leader was arrested on charges of assaulting and injuring a police constable inside a police station, police said today.

Gurdeep Deepa was arrested on the basis of a complaint by constable Pardip Kumar who alleged that he was assaulted and his uniform was torn by the BJP leader inside Satnampura police station on Monday night.

A case was registered against Deepa under sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of IPC on the constable's complaint.

However, Deepa denied the allegations, saying he was being framed in the case. Three cops, including an inspector, were suspended for dereliction of duty yesterday on a complaint by Deepa as they along with an accused were allegedly caught drinking liquor inside a police station.

"While SHO Inspector Joginderpal, two head constables Harbhajan Singh and Sarwan Singh were yesterday suspended on Deepa's complaint, Deepa was arrested on constable Pardip Kumar's complaint," he said.

Deepa had said that his supporter Resham Singh had lodged a complaint against one Laadi for defrauding him of Rs 80,000.

Both Laadi and Resham were called by the police in connection with the complaint. However, Laadi was allegedly found drinking with the cops inside police station, Deepa had alleged. He had also alleged that when he reported the matter to the SHO, the latter misbehaved with him.

After Deepa's arrest, his supporters led by his BJP Councillor wife Kuljit Kaur, blocked traffic on National Highway-1 last night.

The blockade was lifted after police arranged the meeting of Kuljit Kaur with her husband in the police station.

PTI