Ex-SHO of Mehatpur police station gets bail

A court in Jalandhar today granted bail to the former SHO of Mehatpur police station in Shahkot, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and obstructing an on-duty government official on May 11.

"Parminder Singh Bajwa has been granted bail by the court in Jalandhar. We sought bail on the ground that he was not required for further questioning," Bajwa's counsel Baltej Singh Dhillon said.

Bail application was filed a few days ago, the counsel said.

Inspector Bajwa, who had registered an FIR against the Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi in an illegal mining case, was arrested for pushing and assaulting an assistant sub-inspector-rank police officer during the frisking process at the court premises (in Jalandhar) thus preventing him from discharging his duty.

Bajwa had gone to the Jalandhar district court to seek security for himself as he had feared for his life.

He was booked under relevant sections of the 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC and section 27 of the Arms Act.

Bajwa, who was the Station House Officer of Mehatpur police station at Shahkot, was later replaced by the Election Commission.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had described the arbitrary registration of the FIR by the SHO against the Congress candidate as part of a political conspiracy.