Virk’s arrest will affect morale of cops: Gill

Terming the arrest of former Punjab DGP S S Virk as “unwarranted”, former Punjab DGP K P S Gill said the incident may adversely affect the morale of police forces fighting terrorism. He said there was no need to arrest Virk and the manner of arrest was also objectionable.

On the Vigilance Bureau booking Virk for harbouring terrorists-turned- ‘cats’ under Sections 216 and 218 of the IPC, Gill said he has never seen use of such sections against any police officer in the past 50 years. “Why inquire into only ‘cats’, why not bats and rats? We used several means to eliminate terror ,” he said.

Section 216 refers to harbouring an offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered and Section 218 refers to a public servant framing an incorrect record or writing with intent to save a person from punishment or property from forfeiture.