Following public agitation demanding arrest of the policemen who assaulted a retired Armyman Bhagwan Singh, the Kotdwar police Kotwali on Wednesday registered case against policemen of Dugadda under Sections 147, 323, 504, 506 of Indian Penal Code.
Superintendent of Police Vimla Gunjyal said that the police constables Sonu and Sachin who are involved in this case had already been suspended. The police personnel and Bhagwan Singh had both filed applications accusing each other of violence. Singh is admitted in the Joint Hospital Kotdwar.
On Tuesday large number of protesters demonstrated here demanding registration of case against the policemen who beat Singh. They demanded that the guilty should be arrested and those preventing investigation should be transferred. The protesters also blocked the national highway near the Tehsil with more than a dozen youth climbing the overhead water tank demanding termination of the policemen guilty of beating Singh. The sub divisional magistrate and police circle officer had reached the site and themselves climbed the tank to talk with the protestors but failed to convince them.
late evening on the assurance of the Uttarakhand Health Minister and regional MlA Surendra Singh Negi, the youth climbed down. It is said that Negi took up the matter with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna after which the police was forced to register the case against the policemen.
According to Police Kotwali, on the complaint Bhagwan Singh case has been registered against 15 policemen and the investigation of complaints received from both the sides is being conducted by CO Aruna Bharti. Singh was allegedly thrashed by cops when he refused to pay bribe while plying his taxi.