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A News Article and Punjab Police !!!!

 The news item and my story

This is a splendid article by RAJESH RAMACHANDRAN in The Tribune dated 15th April 2023 and titled When Policemen go Rogue. and must be read by all those interested in the welfare of Punjab.
I too have a story. Years back say around 2003 or 2004 I was at a meeting at District Central Cooperative Bank in Punjab. The District Manager, the Deputy Registrar Cooperative Societies, the Chief Agriculture Officer and the Deputy Director Animal Husbandry were all there and of course me and the senior officers of the Cooperative Bank.
Suddenly a Punjab Police Inspector opened the door of the conference hall rather rudely. And shouted loudly that he was a SHO and how had the Cooperative Bank dared to issue him a letter for default of a loan. The DM was caught off guard as in any case it was not his duty to know this. First he said he would attend to it after the meeting. No way. He tried placating him as did his officers but it was of no use. He said his honour had been besmirched and he wanted people suspended. Meanwhile the Branch Manager turned up and said your instalment was not paid last month and our letter in Punjabi was only a request to pay it. We have not issued a notice. No use. The SHO just about would have kicked him. He was so angry. At last he cooled down somewhat and sat down but remained arrogant.
Now comes the interesting part. He said he owned sixteen plots between Nawanshahr Phagwara Ludhiana and a cold store. He said SSP Saheb told us rather guided us that take a couple of loans and show some plots and be intelligent about it. Even DIG Saheb told us to be always clear on showing the sources for some properties. Meanwhile we sat absolutely dumb and shocked as without knowing who we were the cop was just talking away nonchalantly.
After some time the letter to him was treated as withdrawn and he left still muttering and refusing to drink the tea offered to him. After he left I purposely asked the State Government guys what was this. Their reaction was simply its Punjab Police !! Anything is possible. This incident is just still fresh in my mind !!
Once the Deputy Commissioner of the district ordered a meeting of bankers at the PWD Rest House located along the canal. It was a nice pleasant meeting and we settled for a leisurely lunch. The SDO quietly came to the DC and said some officers were misusing the Rest House. Who are they thundered the DC, himself a Punjabi. The SDO simply named some top police officers of the district. The DC quietly said, if it’s the Police, well it’s just beyond me. They would not listen in any case !!
And that was that.
When policemen go rogue

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