Sangrur: Senior Congress leaders on Friday visited Mohanjit Singh, who is admitted to the Civil Hospital in Sangrur, and demanded action against police personnel accused of assaulting him after he showed a black flag during Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s public programme.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and former minister Vijay Inder Singla met Mohanjit at the hospital and said they would pursue the matter to ensure action against those responsible.
Bajwa alleged that Mohanjit had been subjected to “inhuman torture” in police custody merely for showing a black flag to the chief minister over the drug issue. He further alleged that the youth’s turban was removed and his hair was dishonoured during the incident.
Bajwa said he would send a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and demanded action against the DSP, two inspectors and other police personnel allegedly involved.
“This is not merely a political issue. It is a fight for the dignity of the turban,” Bajwa said, while accusing the AAP government of failing to act against the officials concerned.
Khaira also criticised the government, alleging that people were being prevented from raising their voices. He claimed Mohanjit was initially not being admitted to the Civil Hospital and that Vijay Inder Singla intervened to secure his admission and medico-legal examination.
During the interaction with the media, Khaira also tore up a defamation notice reportedly sent to him by the chief minister’s wife in connection with separate ₹5-crore allegations and challenged further legal action.
What is the case?
Mohanjit Singh, a resident of Sheron village in the Sunam constituency, was detained after allegedly waving a black cloth in protest during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Lok Milni programme.
After his release, Mohanjit alleged that police had assaulted him at a building in the village and later at the police station. He further alleged that he was subjected to electric shocks and that his turban and hair were dishonoured.
Leaders from the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) subsequently accompanied him to the Sangrur Civil Hospital.
The allegations of custodial torture have been made by Mohanjit and opposition leaders and have not been independently established.
