Preserve CCTV footage of Ludhiana police station, says High Court

Chandigarh, November 18: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the preservation of CCTV footage of a police station in a case where the petitioners described the matter as a glaring example of “complete goonda raj in the state by none other than criminals in uniform, who not only proclaim, but do anything in the name of law”.

The case pertains to purported picking up of a woman by the police before being allegedly made to “roam around” in a car. The woman was eventually rescued by a warrant officer appointed by the High Court, as per the petitioners, The Tribune reported.

Taking up the matter, Justice Sudip Ahluwalia directed the listing of the case in December first week for the filing of a status report by respondent-Ludhiana Commissioner of Police on a complaint filed in the matter. 

“It is further directed that the CCTV footage of the police station, Division No. 4, Ludhiana, of September 18 after 7 am of that date, be preserved till further orders,” Justice Ahluwalia said.

The petitioners before the court, through counsel Abhinav Gupta, claimed they were “petty contractors” engaged in collecting debris from construction sites. The Bench was told that a police official objected to the use of machines in a plot in front of his house. In the dispute that ensued, two of the petitioners received multiple injuries, which could be corroborated from the medico-legal report. They were shocked to learn that an FIR for attempt to murder and other offences was subsequently registered against them.

Gupta submitted the house of a close friend of one of the petitioners was raided. Since he was not there, the police officials abducted his sister. After the warrant officer’s appointment, a call was received at the police station. Another petitioner, abducted by the police, was made to go home. But they were unwilling to release the woman and tried to change her location. She was made to roam around in a car and was ultimately rescued by the warrant officer.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/preserve-cctv-footage-of-ludhiana-police-station-says-high-court-171882