Punjab Newsline | Barnala
A young man allegedly consumed a poisonous substance inside a police station in Barnala on Thursday morning after accusing police officials of harassment and demanding a bribe in connection with a complaint regarding his car catching fire.
Before taking the extreme step, Jobanpreet Singh recorded and released a three-minute video in which he alleged that police officials sought a bribe for registering his complaint. He also accused a patwari in Dhuri of accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh. In the video, Jobanpreet claimed he was ending his life because he was fed up with corruption and bribery.
Following the incident, he was rushed to a private hospital in critical condition. Hospital authorities later said that his condition was stable.
After the incident, another youth identifying himself as Jobanpreet’s brother released a video alleging that the Station House Officer (SHO) left the police station after the incident. He further claimed that police personnel seized his mobile phone and subsequently locked the main gate of the police station.
Barnala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Sarfaraz Alam said the youth who consumed the poisonous substance is currently stable and undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Barnala.
The SSP said the victim had raised two separate issues and levelled allegations against two police personnel and a patwari. He added that the allegations are being thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
