Sangrur: Punjab Police have ordered an independent inquiry into allegations that a youth was tortured in custody after he displayed a black flag from a rooftop during chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s Sept 2 programme in Sheron village of Sunam in Sangrur district to protest against the state’s synthetic drug menace.Mohanjit Singh of Sheron village alleged police gave him electric shocks, struck his head with a slipper and disrespected his religious symbols. Police denied the allegations, calling him a history-sheeter who tested positive for drugs during preventive detention.While SSP Ravjot Kaur and Sunam DSP Harwinder Singh Khaira could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts, Sangrur (Rural) DSP Dalbir Singh said Mohanjit had deliberately attempted to disrupt an official programme and was detained due to the security threat and his antecedents. Police said several criminal cases, including offences under Sections 307 and 395 and provisions of the Arms Act, were registered against him.“Preventive action was taken against him under Sections 126 and 170 of BNSS. The inquiry has been assigned to a senior officer from another Sangrur sub-division. Based on the report and statements, strict legal action will be initiated against whoever is found guilty,” Dalbir Singh said.Police said a mandatory medical examination was conducted before Mohanjit was produced before the SDM and his dope test returned positive.Police also questioned the timing of the allegations, saying they emerged after Mohanjit secured bail from the executive court and was admitted to hospital, where a medico legal report documenting injuries was prepared.The incident has triggered a political row, with Akal Takht acting Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress demanding action against the allegedly involved police personnel accusing and the AAP govt of suppressing dissent. Addressing the Miri-Piri Khalsa March at Gurdwara Sri Bhattha Sahib in Ropar, Giani Gargajj said displaying a black flag was a legitimate democratic right.Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira met Mohanjit in hospital on Friday and appealed to political parties and the public to plan a protest march from the spot where the black flag was displayed, while Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring questioned whether protesting against govt had become an offence. Both Punjab leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday approached National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking a probe into the alleged custodial torture.Badal visited Mohanjit at Sangrur civil hospital and demanded criminal cases and dismissal of police officers accused of torturing Mohanjit.
