Sabha says Lambra cop illegally detained NRI, registers case

A complaint was registered with Jalandhar (Rural) SSP against the conduct of the Station House Officer (SHO) of Lambra police station by the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) and NRI Sabha on Monday over alleged wrongful detainment of an NRI after he requested contract money from his tenant, to whom he had leased out agricultural land.

The UK-based NRI Gurdial Singh was kept detained for six hours on Sunday after the Sarpanch of Chamiara village registered a complaint against Gurdial over alleged misbehaviour and harassment. The tenant, Kuljit Singh, had allegedly not paid rent on five acres leased to him by Gurdial for the past five years.

In a press statement, NAPA spokesperson, Satnam Singh Chahal said it was necessary to take very strict action against this police officer to send a strong message to those officers who are making lives of overseas Punjabi community "miserable during their visit to Punjab".

"This police officer not only ignored the directions, but also played into the hands of those elements who are responsible in grabbing land and property of overseas Punjabi Community," he said, adding that only IGP/NRI Affairs, Gurpreet Deo, took timely action to take Gurdial out of lock up.

NRI Sabha president Jasbir Singh condemned the incident and said he would write to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take strict action in this incident.

"The SHO refused to talk to us once the incident came to our notice," he added.

SP Mukhwinder Singh said that a compromise has been made in the complaint field by the Sarpanch, while he is still investigating the tenant tiller case.

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