Patiala cops book man who kept father chained for 5 yrs

Patiala : Three months after The Tribune highlighted the condition of an Octogenarian, Gurbhajan Singh, locked alone in a house in Mooran Wali Gali, Patiala, for the past five years, the Patiala police has booked his son under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The action has been taken on the basis of an inquiry report submitted by a committee of the government officials headed by Patiala SDM Gurmeet Singh. Confirming this to TNS station house officer of the Kotwali police station, Sukh Amrit Singh, said based on the recommendations of chairman of the inquiry committee, District Attorney (Legal) submitted his report to Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dipinder Singh. “Following the nod from Patiala DC, the complaint against Gurbhajan’s son was sent to the police station by SDM. On December 16, a case under Section 278 (Making atmosphere noxious to health), 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and 346 (Wrongful confinement in secret) has been registered against Gurbhajan’s son, whose name was not mentioned in the complaint submitted by SDM”, he said. The police said Gurbhajan’s son was also been charged with Section 24 (Exposure and abandonment of senior citizen) of the Maintenance of Welfare of Parents and CC Act, 2002. No arrests have been made so far but investigations into the matter are on. Despite repeated attempts SDM, Gurmeet Singh, was not available for comments.

Meanwhile, it was on September 21 that The Tribune had highlighted the inhuman conditions in which Gurbhajan was leading his life in a locked house from past five years. Gurbhajan’s son would visit the house and kept food near the gate, on a daily basis. Taking cognisance of the report, Patiala DC had ordered the SDM, Gurmeet Singh, to visit the house and take stock of the situation. On September 23,when a team of district administration, led by SDM went to Mooran Wali Gali, where the octogenarian was locked he was taken out. Gurbhajan was medically examined from the Government Rajindra Hospital. Despite several efforts, the whereabouts of Gurbhajan could not be confirmed. According to the information, he is living with his daughter, after The Tribune brought the entire episode to light.