ASI caught without mask, challaned

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 10

After video of the PCR cop not wearing mask went viral on social media, Ludhiana Police Commissioner (CP) Rakesh Agrawal directed the police to immediately issue challan.

The erring cop, identified as ASI Raj Singh, is deployed with the PCR wing. Policemen accompanying the ASI in the PCR van issued him a challan of Rs 500. The ASI and his colleagues felt humiliated when they were asked to take action against themselves.

“It has come to our notice that some policemen do not wear masks while on duty. We feel that conduct of the police should be exemplary. Keeping this in view, a challan was issued to ASI Raj Singh for not wearing mask,” the CP said.

As per the information, PCR cops stopped a pedestrian, who was not wearing mask. When pedestrian was told to pay a fine of Rs 500, he noticed that an ASI sitting in the PCR van was also not wearing mask. The pedestrian told cops that he would pay fine if the ASI was also challaned for not wearing a mask.

Arguments lasted for several minutes, but cops were not ready to issue challan to their colleague. Later, when the matter reached the top cop, he immediately asked policemen concerned to challan the erring ASI and recover Rs 500 as fine. The pedestrian, who raised the issue, was also challaned.

“If cops are not sparing any resident for not wearing mask, they should also pay heed to the Covid-19 norms. Rules are equal for everyone. Rather cops role should be exemplary so that people get encouraged to wear mask,” the CP added.

“Strict instructions have been issued to the entire police force to follow norms and set an example for others,” the CP said.

The Ludhiana police has set a target of distributing 20 lakh masks among needy in the industrial hub so that people can be saved from falling prey to the deadly virus.