Jalandhar: Alleged negligence of the police has come to light in the case of kidnapping and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Jalandhar. ASI Mangat Ram, who reached the spot, has been dismissed from service. The orders were issued by Jalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur.
Mangat’s negligence: How the ASI went wrong
On November 22, the girl’s family filed a complaint of kidnapping at the Basti Bawa Khela police station.
ASI Mangat Ram was the first to reach the spot.
After spending about 20 minutes inside the house, he told the family that there was nothing inside.
Later, the girl’s body was found in the bathroom, which made it clear that her life could have been saved if the police had conducted a timely investigation.
The incident was revealed with the help of CCTV and neighbours.
The CCTV footage showed the girl dressed in black walking towards the accused’s house on the road.
Neighbour Upasana said that she and others immediately informed the police.
Due to the police’s failure to take timely action, the residents had to enter the house themselves.
Neighbours and public anger
When people saw the girl’s body in the bathroom, there was a commotion on the road.
The accused was thrown out of the house and beaten up by the public.
The police tried to control the mob, but the mob attacked the accused.
ASI Mangat Ram’s alleged negligence
Mangat Ram admitted that he did not check the bathroom.
He said that he only watched the CCTV footage and peeked into the room, but did not check the bathroom.
This negligence deprived the girl of any possible rescue.
Jalandhar Mayor’s statement
Jalandhar Mayor Dhir said:
“This is a very sad incident. It shames humanity. If ASI Mangat Ram had done his duty properly, the girl could have been alive today.”
Who was the girl and what happened?
The deceased girl was 13 years old and a student of class 8.
She had gone to meet her friend, unaware that her friend had gone to Ludhiana with her mother.
The family started searching for her at 4:30 pm.
When the police failed to respond immediately, the residents entered the house and found her body in the bathroom.
Arrest of the accused and administrative action
The accused was arrested and prosecuted under all possible sections.
ADCP Harinder Gill assured that the strictest punishment under the law would be given and the case would be taken to a fast-track court.
The police took the body and the injured accused to the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.