Updated: October 10, 2020 1:42:09 pm
The man was “specifically” asked to wear his turban before his arrest, police said. [Twitter/@WBPolice]
Under attack by hurt religious feelings, West Bengal Police clarified on Saturday that a Sikh man’s turban had “fallen off automatically” and “without any attempt” by police personnel during the scuffle that broke out amid the BJP march towards the minister’s office. Main Mamata Banerjee earlier this week. The man was “specifically” asked to wear his turban before his arrest, he added.
The man, Balwinder Singh (46), is a private security guard of BJP leader Priyanshu Pandey, and was arrested for allegedly carrying a loaded gun during the saffron party rally in Nabanna on Thursday. Pandey has also been arrested. Police said Balwinder, a Bhatinda resident of Punjab, is also an assistant to BJP Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh.
In a video that went viral on social media, Balwinder is seen being loaded with latex and dragged away by police. In the riot, they “took off his turban,” BJP leaders said.
The interested party carried firearms in yesterday’s protest. El Pagri had automatically fallen in the fight that followed, without our officer trying (visible in the attached video). It is never our intention to hurt the feelings of any community (1/2) pic.twitter.com/aE8UgN36W5
– West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) October 9, 2020
Refuting the claims, the state police tweeted: “The person in question was carrying firearms at yesterday’s protest. The pagri [turban] had automatically fallen into the fray that followed, without any attempt from our officer [visible in the video attached]. It is never our intention to hurt the feelings of any community ”.
Referring to a photograph of the Sikh man that they claimed was clicked before his arrest, the police said: “The West Bengal police respect all religions. The officer specifically asked him to return his page before the arrest. The attached photo was clicked just before he was escorted to the police station. We remain committed to our duty to uphold law and order in the state. “
The incident caught the attention of cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who demanded strict action against the culprits.
“Pulling Balwinder Singh’s turban from the safety of Priyanshu Pandey… shows the barbarity of the Bengal police. @MamataOfficial, take strict action against guilty cops… ”he tweeted.
SAD spokesman Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded that the guilty police officers be registered under section 295A of the IPC. [acts intended to outrage religious].
BJP National Secretary Arvind Menon said the incident had “insulted the Sikh community.”
BJP State President Dilip Ghosh said the security guard was carrying a “licensed weapon.”
Police said the gun license was limited only to the Rajouri district in J&K.
Demonstration to protest the alleged assault on a Sikh man
Around 50 members of the Sikh community held a protest rally in the city today, condemning the alleged assault on the Sikh man, the PTI news agency reported.
“CM Mamata Banerjee, please explain why your police have pulled a Sikh’s turban. They should explain or put down the chair, ”the protesters chanted on Central Avenue near Esplanade Crossing.
📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay up to date with the latest headlines
For the latest news from Kolkata, download the Indian Express app.
.
