HVK Archives: BJP MLA's financial aid to police kin
BJP MLA's financial aid to police kin - The Indian Express
Satinder Bains
()
22 July 1997
Title: BJP MLA's financial aid to police kin
Author: Satinder Bains
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 22, 1997
Militants' families accused of filing fake complaints against police.
In an unprecedented gesture, a BJP MLA has provided financial assistance of
Rs 10,000 each to families of 16 Punjab police personnel who are at present
in the Central Jail here.
The policemen are facing trial in various criminal cases associated with
their "conduct" during militancy.
Laxmi Kanta Chawla, MLA, who claimed the money had been collected by her
"well-wishers," said yesterday, "Nobody is bothered about the travails of
families of policemen who fought against militancy. On the one hand, the
state government is taking a decision to confiscate properties of militants
and on the other hand, the families of jailed policemen are left in misery.
Inspector-General of Police (Border Range) Bakhshi Ram distributed the cash
to the families. And Senior Superintendent of Police Paramjit Singh Gill
listened to the families' complaints. Ram urged the families to face the
"crisis with a strong will," and admitted: "We are unable to extend any
help due to technical obstructions."
Bakshi claimed that most of the cases against the policemen were registered
on the basis of fabricated stories. "We have no grudge against the courts,"
said Bakshi, "but we want that the judiciary should not be biased and
should give a reasonable hearing to the policemen."
He alleged the CBI had registered most of the cases on the basis of writ
petitions filed by the kin of militants. Justifying the registration of
criminal cases against some of the policemen recently, Ram said, "These
cases were registered by the police itself to avoid writ petitions and CBI
cases." He assured the families that efforts were being made "at high
levels" to get bail for the detained policemen.
He also promised that he would get the subsistence allowance of Rs 1,000
hiked to Rs 1,500 for families of policemen detained for more than six months.
Those who received financial help included the family members of DSP Baldev
Singh Sekhon and seven of his gunmen, all charged with kidnapping and
murdering eight members of a family in Bagga, Sekhon's native village.
Also present were families of SHO, Taran Taran, Gulzar Chand; ASI Tarsem
Singh booked for allegedly killing an Akali Dal office-bearer in
Hoshiarpur; and SP (retd) Sardul Singh who is facing trial in a murder
case. The families had poignant stories to tell. Of how they had lost all
their money fighting legal battles and paying for their children's education.
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