SRINAGAR: In a recent development, an FIR has been lodged against Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh in Kathua district for purported misbehaviour with a police party. The incident reportedly occurred two days ago, reports appearing in the media said.
Singh is pitted against ruling BJP’s Dr Jitendra Singh in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency that goes to polls in the first phase today.
According to official reports, the FIR was filed at the Kathua police station on Tuesday, prompted by a written complaint from Sub-Inspector Swarn Singh Manhas, who heads the police post at Industrial Estate Kathua.
The FIR encompasses several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), notably including Section 353, which deals with obstructing the duty of a public servant through assault or the use of criminal force. Additionally, Sections 500, 504, and 506, concerning defamation, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and criminal intimidation respectively, have been invoked in the complaint.
In his statement to authorities, the police official detailed the events leading up to the filing of the FIR. He recounted that while he and fellow officials were on duty at Kalibari Chowk in Kathua during a road show by the contested candidate on April 16, Singh allegedly began shouting at them and other deployed police personnel. The official claimed that Singh’s actions were aimed at defaming them publicly.
“He has intentionally insulted us publicly and used unparliamentary language thereby causing injury to my reputation as well as to the police organization. He also defamed, criminally intimidated, threatened me and caused obstruction in the discharge of lawful duties. So, it is, therefore, requested that cognisance in this regard may kindly be taken,” the official stated, quoting from the FIR, according to the Jammu-based newspaper, Daily Excelsior.
