Punjab is same at the both sides of the border
Monitoring Desk: The linkage of politicians with criminal gangs and political patronage to criminals seems to be a part of political system of India and Pakistan.
Abuse of political power to comfort criminals if they ever land in jails is very popular in Pakistan as well as in India. The news covered by some of Indian newspapers showed that there is no big difference between corrupt judicial system of India and Pakistan and criminals are all powerful if they are backed by politicians.
Indian newspapers reported this week that a dance party was illegally arranged inside a jail of Indian Punjab to celebrate Punjabi religious and social event of Baisakhi.
Three dancing girls were imported inside Patti sub jail in Tarn Taran district of Punjab on April 14 (Baisakhi day) by an under-trial murder accuse and jailer was sitting and enjoying the dances while sipping Indian drinks. As like Pakistan, a religious blending was given to this event to avoid lawful action against unlawful celebration of Baisakhi.
In Pakistan, thousands of religious activists can march on roads carrying latest firearms in their hands and chanting religious slogans and nobody dare to arrest them under law for possessing illegal firearms or to exhibit legal firearms in open places. In India, the name of Baisakhi was used to cover-up this pleasure seeking event.
A report prepared by Amritsar Jail Superintendent R K Sharma submitted to Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) R K Meena indicated that pleasure seeking function was sponsored by a politician to please his friend who is in jail as accuse of murder.
The report said:
“As per the guidelines issued by the department, prior permission needs to taken to hold such a function, which was projected as a religious function by the jail authorities. Permission, either from jails department or from district magistrate, was required to hold such a function, which was not taken. The image of the jails department has been “tarnished” by organising such a function”.
According to the report, dancers were brought from Fatehgarh Churian in Gurdaspur district for a sum of Rs 13,000 (for each girl) for the function.
Photos came out from the jail showed that under-trail murder accused Sarwan Singh Bhagupur was sitting next to Patti Jail deputy superintendent Davinder Singh Randhawa on a chair.
“The under trial had a back problem, that is why he sat on a chair next to me,” said Randhawa when he was asked by authorities. The accused is in Patti jail in connection with the 2013 murder of Congress activist Sukhraj Singh Bhagupur.
“The jail inmates had pooled in money and arranged for the dancers. The jail administration has nothing to do with it,” claimed jailer Randhawa. “I never knew that any permission was needed to hold such functions.”
Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal has reportedly sought a report in the matter.
