AMRITSAR – In a much shaming incident, a Punjab traffic police cop allegedly thrashed the victim, identified as Mukhtiar Singh, resident of Vallah village, which led to pulling of the beard and tossing of his turban.
The traffic at two key points of the city — Court Chowk and Novelty Chowk — remained suspended following a brawl between a traffic policeman and a horse cart owner today.
Hundreds of agitated Sikhs and Hindus took to the streets and blocked major roads of Amritsar late Monday evening over this misbehavior.
Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Jaswinder Singh Advocate, who joined Aam Aadmi Party recently, along with several other persons sat on a dharna at Novelty Chowk demanding an FIR against the cops.
The eyewitnesses protested against the policeman and blocked the traffic immediately. Activists of the AAP, headed by Jaswinder Singh Advocate, besides various Sikh organisations, also reached the spot in support of the victim.
Senior police officials, including ADCP Gautam Kumar, and ACP North BK Singla, reached the spot and tried to pacify agitators, who were adamant and demanding registration of an FIR against the policeman.
In his complaint to the police, Mukhtiar Singh alleged that the accused policeman deputed at the Kitchlu chowk pulled his beard and used abusive language, besides physically assaulting him. The ACP said they were ready to take action but, only on the basis of facts. The CCTV cameras located nearby did not ascertain pulling of beard or physical assault. He said they were still holding talks with protesters till the filing of the report.