In a dramatic escalation of a routine checkpoint stop, a mob of nearly 100 people stormed the Shingar police station in Ludhiana, vandalizing property and assaulting an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) late Saturday night.
The incident began when a shopkeeper, riding a scooter with his son, was stopped at a police checkpoint for speeding. A heated argument ensued, and the shopkeeper was taken to the police station. However, he managed to escape and returned shortly afterward with a large group of people.
The mob forced their way into the police station by breaking down the gate, damaging flower pots, and ransacking the office. The chaos culminated in the mob attacking ASI Surinder Singh, who suffered injuries, along with another policeman.
According to the police officials, the shopkeeper, identified as Sarabjit Singh, claimed to be a journalist during the initial altercation at the checkpoint. When taken to the police station, his son managed to flee and later returned with the mob. The angry crowd not only attacked the police station but also caused a significant traffic jam outside due to the commotion.
Chowki in-charge Jaswinder Singh stated that the checkpoint was set up in response to recent snatching incidents in the area, and they were actively looking for the culprits. The shopkeeper and his son were riding their scooter at high speed, which prompted the police to stop them for questioning. Jaswinder Singh reported that Sarabjit and his son were uncooperative and behaved rudely, leading to their detention.
On the other hand, Sarabjit and his family have alleged police misconduct, claiming that the officers were drunk and had assaulted them. Sarabjit’s wife, Sarabjit Kaur, accused the police of removing her husband and son’s turbans during the altercation and demanded an investigation into the incident.
The Ludhiana police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage to identify all individuals involved in the mob attack. An FIR has been registered, and the police are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, raising questions about the conduct of both the police and the mob. The Commissioner of Ludhiana assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents in the future.
