Gurugram society residents allege cop threatened them with service weapon, asked for money

Residents of Orchid Island society in Sector 51 on Wednesday demanded a probe and disciplinary action against a police officer for allegedly abusing and threatening them with his service weapon on Tuesday evening.

The residents of the society met Haryana Union minister Rao Narbir Singh’s on Wednesday morning and demanded a probe into the incident.

Around 7.30pm on July 10, merchants of a vegetable shack and a grocery store in the society complained to the residents’ welfare association (RWA) about a police officer, identified as assistant sub-inspector Raj Kumar Sharma of Sector 39 crime branch, allegedly demanding extortion money from the shop owners for the past three months.

Rajinder Kumar, the president of the RWA, alleged that the officer called him on his mobile phone, told him that he was coming to collect ‘rent’ from the shops and he would ‘settle score’ with anyone who objects.

“The police officer came to the colony and started abusing the residents. Within a few minutes, he called some local goons who started beating us with canes and lathis. He (officer) pulled out his revolver, pointed it at my chest and threatened me with dire consequences,” said Kumar, adding that some RWA members sustained minor injuries.

The officer, however, dismissed it as a minor dispute over ‘a water issue’. “I also stay in the colony. There was a minor spat with the RWA officials, which was sorted out later,” Sharma said.

However, Kumar said the issue was not resolved and they would wait a day or two before initiating further action.

Navneet Khatri, the vice-president of the RWA, sustained an injury to his forehead and received treatment at Civil Hospital. He said that the society had submitted a complaint (a copy of which is available with HT) to the commissioner of police on June 29, against the officer and his associates.

“The two shops within the premises of Orchid Island pay a monthly contribution to RWA. The police officer and his acquaintance, Vipin Kumar, who owns a plot in the vicinity, had been extorting money from the shops since April 2018 and threatening to implicate them in false cases if money was not paid,” said Khatri.

Residents have also submitted a written complaint against the officer and his associates to the station house officer of Sector 50 police station.

Rao Narbir Singh said that he heard about the incident on social media and immediately asked the police commissioner to look into the matter.

Commissioner of police, Gurugram, KK Rao, said that an inquiry has been initiated. “I have sought a report from the officer concerned and it is expected in the next two days. I condemn the incident and strict action would be taken against the official, if found guilty,” said Rao.