ASI faces suspension for inaction in drug case

PK Jaisar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 26

An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was placed under suspension for not taking action against two “drug peddlers” after a video of the same went viral on social media on Wednesday. He has been identified as ASI Nanak Singh, in charge of the Sohian Kalan police post here. The action has been taken for dereliction of duty.

SSP Vikram Jeet Duggal, while confirming the incident, said such attitude was intolerable as it was the prime duty of the cops to respond to public complaints irrespective of area jurisdiction.

A video has gone viral in which a youth, along with several persons, accused the Sohian Kalan police post in-charge of not taking action against two youths (addicts/peddlers) whom they caught while consuming and possessing drugs. In the video, the speaker alleged that the Sohian Kalan police post was the fourth police station/post he visited for handing over the accused, but police officials did not show interest. He alleged that some cops even asked them to bring people possessing more quantity of drugs as they don’t arrest people with small quantity.

The SSP said the ASI concerned should have taken the complaint and got a zero FIR registered against the suspects besides seizing the contraband. Later, he should have contacted the police station concerned for taking the complaint to a logical end while pointing out that a complainant can lodge his FIR in any part of the country.

“Nanak Singh has failed miserably in his duty in responding to a highly sensitive issue of drugs. Therefore he has been suspended with immediate effect,” said Duggal, adding that instructions had already been issued to all police officials in the rural district to lodge a zero FIR first whenever any such case of high sensitivity is reported.