Jailed woman alleges police frame-up; Punjab Police deny charges

Patiala: A viral video of a 24-year-old engineering graduate lodged in Sangrur jail alleging police misconduct and a false narcotics case has triggered a debate over anti-drug policing in the state.Punjab Police have denied the allegations and released a separate video of residents of the woman's village accusing her of peddling.The woman from Chaunda village made the allegations before Punjab State Human Rights Commission member Jitender Singh Shunty during a grievance hearing in jail. In the video, she admitted to heroin addiction, but alleged police falsely implicated her in a case involving narcotic tablets.She also alleged she was interrogated at isolated locations and filmed before her formal arrest. The woman named a medical store and a nearby village as centres of drug supply.Malerkotla police denied the allegations and maintained that the case was based on lawful recovery and investigation. Amargarh police station SHO Baljit Singh said police arrested the woman on April 5 after the seizure 43 tablets from her possession. Her live-in partner, Pargat Singh, was separately booked after the seizure of 59 tablets, police said. "The case is based on lawful seizure and due investigation, and the village panchayat supports the police version," the SHO said. To counter the allegations, police released video statements of village residents claiming the couple was involved in drug peddling. Police also said the arrests followed inputs received during a community outreach meeting.Despite the woman's detailed allegations of misconduct, the state's human rights commission indicated it would not launch a formal probe into her specific claims. "She spoke her heart and admitted her addiction," Shunty said. "Our motive is to reach the main suppliers. If everyone starts criticising the cops, they might stop catching the suppliers."