Shillong, July 07: Army has out rightly rejected the claim of Shillong Police regarding the incident reported in local newspapers wherein there was a scuffle between some army personnel and Police in Assam Bazar area of Shillong.
Instead it has emerged that Sarabjit Thapa, a handicapped soldier was returning from Assam Rifles bazaar after some shopping. The handicapped soldier had medical problems of fractured ankle and fractured backbone due to which he has to walk with the support throughout. Apparently while walking with the support, he lost his balance on the uneven road and rubbed the policemen standing close by. The Policeman started beating him badly without inquiry. The handicapped soldier was beaten in full public glare, seeing which some local onlookers intervened and protested the treatment being given by policeman to the hapless soldier.
Meanwhile the regimental police of the Army unit, which was on a routine patrolling in the area, came to the site of the incident and requested the policeman to leave the handicapped soldier. However, Police seeing the protest of locals, had increased its number by around 15-20 policemen by now. The policemen did not pay heed to the regimental police of the Army unit and instead forcefully took away Rifleman Kamal Gurung, who had nothing to do with the incident, but was standing close by.
On being informed regarding the incident, The Army Duty Officer, Capt Vikrant Sharma went to the Police Station and retrieved the soldier from the Police. Taking the strong exception to the brutal behavior meted out to its soldier, Army has protested strongly and has approached the Police authorities to take stern action against erring Policemen. The Army has also lodged an FIR with the police giving the details of the incident. The higher authorities of the Army and Police will be having a meeting to resolve the matter.(SP News)
