Court criticizes Punjab police for failing to arrest officers

A court in Punjab has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Bathinda police for failing to arrest five officers linked to a custodial death case. Judicial Magistrate Kuldeep Singh criticized the police's actions, calling the situation a “sorry state of affairs.” The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the five cops, but police reports indicated they could not be found despite attempts to locate them at their homes. The magistrate emphasized that these warrants must be executed and warned that police officials could face consequences for inaction. The five officers belong to the crime investigating agency and are accused of torturing a man named Bhinder Singh to death in custody last October. Evidence from digital and forensic sources contradicted the police's claim that Bhinder had drowned in a lake. The officers were first required to appear in court on February 27 but did not show up. This led to the issuance of bailable warrants, which were also ignored. The court then issued non-bailable warrants, requiring the police to produce the officers by March 20. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for April 7.