Social Media has been abuzz recently after a video went viral that showed Delhi Police thrashing a Tempo Driver, Sarabjeet Singh, and his son. However, it was soon revealed that the Temp Driver was not an innocent victim in the entire series of events.
घटना का पहला विडियो।विडियो में साफ दिख रहा है कि किस तरह टेम्पो चालक तलवार से पुलिसवालों को धमका रहा है और जब पकड़ने की कोशिश की जाती है तो तलवार से एक पुलिसकर्मी को घायल कर देता है। pic.twitter.com/ZA7SAnqS8c
— Jitender Sharma (@capt_ivane) June 16, 2019
Politicians across the spectrum made it a religious issue as the Tempo Driver was a Sikh and ignored the fact that Policemen were initially attacked with a sword.
दिल्ली पुलिस ने गुंडागर्दी की सारी हदें पार की
मुखर्जी नगर में ऑटो ड्राइवर गुरजीत सिंह के साथ बिना बात के मारपीट की और उसकी पगड़ी पर पैरों से प्रहार किया!
मैं वीडियो में नज़र आ रहे @DelhiPolice कर्मियों को सरेआम बेइज़्ज़त करके बरखास्त करने की माँग करता हूँ । @ANI @htTweets pic.twitter.com/PfrSPpWLLT
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) June 16, 2019
After politicians entered the fray, the incident took a religious turn. Sikhs turned up in huge numbers to protest in favour of Sarabjeet. However, there were indications that there was more to the incident than meets the eye. Supporters of the Driver gathered in huge numbers at the Mukherjee Nagar Police Station to register their protests. As per reports, Khalistani slogans were also raised. A Policeman who was trying to pacify the crowd and quell the tensions were also attacked.
Goons targeted a Delhi Police ACP who was trying to pacify the situation. He was chased, hounded and assaulted. Shameful. Politically motivated mess playing out by bringing the religion into the case. pic.twitter.com/KXdcq7OFPt
— Raj Shekhar Jha (@rajshekharTOI) June 17, 2019
Now, it appears, Sarabjeet is a history-sheeter and has numerous cases filed against him. In April, he attacked Mangal Singh, Sevadar at a Gurudwara, for questioning why he was sleeping near the ‘Sarovar’ of the Bangla Saheb Gurudwara for the past few days. He broke Mangal’s arm and was arrested for it before he was released on bail. He was involved in violence in 2006, 2011 and 2013 as well and was arrested for the same.
Three Policemen have thus far been suspended over the matter. While the Police bear the brunt of it, Politicians have lionized Sarabjeet and photo-ops are being conducted with him and his son at Gurudwaras. From the facts of the matter that are in public view, it appears to be a clear case of a violent history-sheeter who once again lost his temper and threatened and attacked the Police with a sword.
Spokesperson of BJP, Delhi, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga echoed similar sentiments on Twitter. Citing Sarabjeet’s criminal background, he requested everyone to “stop seeing everything through the prism of religion” and asked everyone to “stand with the truth”.
सिर्फ इसलिए साथ खड़ा हो जाना क्योंकि वो सिख है कहा तक जायज है ? ये भी नही देखना सही कौन है गलत कौन है ? ऐसी राजनीति करने से अच्छा मैं राजनीति छोड़ना पसन्द करूँगा । राष्ट्र बचेगा तो कुछ बचेगा । https://t.co/ZES9mfWttq
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) June 18, 2019
The Police is often blamed for not being effective enough in controlling mobs but on occasions such as these, it appears political considerations take primacy over law and order issues. The suspension of the Policemen involved in the incident reeks of injustice and one hopes that it will be revoked after a fair inquiry.
