3 Punjab Cops Arrested for Custodial Torture, Sexual Assault of Lawyer

Muktsar (Punjab): A Superintendent of Police (SP) and two other police officers have been arrested in Muktsar district, Punjab, following allegations of torture against a lawyer and another individual while in custody.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to look into the matter. The SIT is chaired by Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu and includes three other police members.

The advocate and another individual were initially arrested on September 14 following a complaint by the Crime Investigation Agency in-charge, Raman Kumar Kamboj, who alleged that the lawyers had assaulted a police team and damaged officers’ uniforms.

However, on September 22, the Muktsar Chief Judicial Magistrate issued an order directing the police to register a case against the policemen based on the advocate’s statement. The court noted that the victim’s statement qualifies as a complaint under Section 2(D) of the Criminal Procedure Code, indicating cognizable offences such as abetment of unnatural sex, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, and causing injuries to his life and liberty.

The policemen have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 377 (unnatural sex), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 506 (criminal intimidation).