Police cases: Panel extends deadline

Chandigarh : The two-member Commission of Inquiry, set up to probe false police cases registered in the past 10 years, has extended the deadline to file complaints by a month in view of a heavy rush. Today was originally the last day for submitting the complaints. “The Commission has extended the deadline to July 31,” said Justice Mehtab Singh Gill (retd), who heads the Commission. Justice BS Mehndirata (retd) is the other member.
Officials said more than 300 complaints were received today. Many made enquiries about the procedure and eligibility of cases that can be taken up by the Commission.
About 3,000 complaints have been received so far, but in terms of FIRs to be probed, the figure would be two to three times higher. Officials said most of the complainants had multiple cases registered against them. Complainants from across the state, carrying bundles of documents and narrating tales of police high-handedness and torture, were seen in the corridors housing the Commission. They claimed that they had been targeted on flimsy grounds or for owing allegiance to certain political parties. A girl from Ludhiana was in tears while filing her complaint. She narrated how the police had booked the entire family, including her sister, mother and brother, over a minor issue at the behest of a politician. A man from Maur said he was booked in several cases for opposing an Akali sarpanch.