Kolkata: The Kolkata police took action on Friday by filing an FIR against “unidentified BJP leaders” under non-bailable sections for allegedly slandering IPS officer Jaspreet Singh with a Khalistani slur in Sandeshkhali on Tuesday.
The FIR, lodged at the Bhowanipore police station, charges the leaders under Section 295A 505(2) and 34.
According to the FIR, the unknown BJP leaders directed a derogatory term, “Khalistani,” at an on-duty Sikh police officer, Jaspreet Singh, with “the intent to not only offend his religious sentiments but also to sow discord among religious communities”.
During the incident on Tuesday, Jaspreet Singh, responsible for maintaining law and order and enforcing prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Sandeshkhali, responded to the alleged slur by confronting the group of BJP leaders and urging them to refrain from targeting his faith.
The confrontation unfolded when the group, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, was enroute to Sandeshkhali and was halted by the police at Dhamakhali in North 24 Parganas district.
Apart from Adhikari, CPM leader Brinda Karat was also stopped by the police who said a Section 144 has been clamped in the area. The BJP and the CPM then sat on separate dharnas.
Talking to the media Adhikari said, “I possess a court order, yet you’re obstructing me. This is regrettable. I’ll wait for an hour, then I’ll head back to Kolkata and bring this matter to the attention of the High Court. The actions of the Mamata Banerjee government and its police force are in defiance of the Calcutta High Court’s ruling.”
Following the circulation of a video capturing the incident, Jaspreet Singh received widespread support, including from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The complaint was filed by Gurmeet Singh, a member of the Youth Khalsa Club. Jaspreet Singh, a 2016-batch IPS officer, currently serves as a special superintendent in the intelligence branch.
