Punjab police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harjeet Singh, whose hand was severed while bravely fighting off an attack while enforcing curfew at Patiala Sabzi Mandi, has been promoted to the rank of Sub-Inspector in recognition of his exemplary courage. Besides, three other cops and Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) official, involved in the incident, have been awarded the awarded Director General’s Commendation Disc.
The decision was taken by Punjab Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta after consulting the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday.
Patiala Sadar Police Station’s Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Bikkar Singh, ASI Raghbir Singh and ASI Raj Singh are the three police officials awarded for display of exemplary courage and devotion to duty during the enforcement of curfew, access control and social distancing measures at Sabzi Mandi, Patiala around 5:30 am on April 12.
Making an exception from the laid down norms, Gupta has also conferred the DGP’s Commendation Disc on a non-uniformed official of the Mandi Board, Yadwinder Singh AR, who is posted as AR in Patiala Market Committee, recognizing that he was part of the joint party of the Police and the Mandi Board.
“The promotion or awards are in recognition of the display of outstanding devotion to duty, patience in the face of provocation, courage and presence of mind of all these men, and to motivate other police officers to continue performing their duties without any fear,” he said.
Besides promoting ASI Harjeet Singh to the local rank of Sub-Inspector, his name has also been approved for inclusion in List D-II, which is a fast track route for promotion to the substantive rank of ASI (the substantive rank of Harjeet Singh is Head Constable), as laid down in the Punjab Police Rules for recognition of Police Officials of exceptional merit, said Gupta.
All the four police officers and AR Yadwinder Singh were seriously injured in the incident, wherein a white colour ISUZU DMX vehicle, carrying about 5/6 persons, on being signalled to stop outside the main gate of the Sabzi Mandi, had crashed into the main gate and also broken the Police barricades ahead.
When the joint party approached the vehicle, it was attacked by Balwinder Singh, Jagmeet Singh, Beant Singh, Nirbhai Singh and their 2/3 associates with sharp edged weapons, including swords and
‘barchas’.
Pointing out that the attack by the band of criminals was very sudden and vicious, the DGP observed that while ASI Harjeet Singh’s left hand was chopped off in the incident, SHO Bilkar Singh had to be sutured and plastered for many sharp cuts on his left arm. The other police officers also had to be hospitalized for treatment of their injuries.