Man picked up by police,now missing; family suspects foul play

Though both the Kolianwali and the Muktsar police refuted the allegations,family members of Saraj Singh claim he has been missing ever since a police party from Kabarwala police station picked him up from his house at 7 pm on August 18.

Saraj’s wife Sukhdeep Kaur alleged he husband was kept in custody illegally. “I am not even sure whether my husband is alive. It was a minor scuffle between Saraj and Joginder Singh,” she said.

Saraj’s brother Ranjit Singh alleged the police were working under the pressure of SGPC executive member Dyal Singh Kolianwali. “Joginder Singh was very close to Kolianwali. Police are now threatening to implicate Saraj in false cases,” he alleged.

The family had also approached the High Court and a warrant officer had conducted a raid at Kabarwala police station. But,Saraj was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile,a group of people expressing solidarity with Saraj’s family today tried to stage a dharna in front of the Kabarwala police station and the police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse them.

Denying putting pressure Kolianwali said,“The family of Saraj Singh was playing in the hands of the Opposition Congress party. Police have not picked anybody. Even the raid by the warrant officer had found that Saraj was not in the police station.”

Kabarwala SHO Gursewak Singh and Joginder Singh,with whom Saraj had a dispute,also refuted the allegations.

Muktsar SSP Inder Mohan Singh said Saraj was brought to the police station following a complaint by Joginder Singh. “But they reached a compromise and Saraj was let off,” the SSP said.