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Journalism of Courage
The Union Territory police can do no wrong. After barging into pool joints, rounding up youngsters playing there and whisking them off to the police station, they have given themselves a clean chit.
SP (City) Baldev Singh, who was told to conduct an inquiry into the incident, has stated that the 39 persons who were herded to Sector 34 police station on March 5 as suspected chain and purse-snatchers faced no harassment. This, despite the fact that Administrator Lt Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) had taken a serious note of police ‘‘high-handedness’’.
Tomorrow, the report, which is being termed by many as an ‘‘eyewash’’, will be submitted to IG Rajesh Kumar. When contacted, SP Baldev Singh said: ‘‘The persons who came to record their statements claimed no harassment at the hands of police. I will submit the findings to the IG tomorrow.’’
Expressing shock over the contents of the report, IG Rajesh Kumar exclaimed: ‘‘How can this happen! I still have to get the report. I will be able to say what action may be taken only tomorrow.’’ He added: ‘‘There has to be some logic to the findings.’’ Advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal, who filed an application in the NHRC, said: ‘‘You cannot expect a police official to conduct a fair inquiry against his counterpart.’’ An impartial agency should now inquire into the matter, Lakhanpal said.
