Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
citizens group led by activists Lakha Sidhana and Amitoj Mann held a public rally today to protest against police excesses and to demand urgent reforms to the Police Complaints Authorities in Punjab. The group voiced strong concerns over recurring incidents of police misconduct, including custodial violence, illegal detentions, extortion, and alleged police involvement in the drug trade across the state.
The rally drew wide and diverse support from across Punjab’s civil society, religious, and farmers’ communities. Among those who addressed the gathering were Bapu Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh; Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a prominent farmer leader; Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, a respected Sikh leader; Satnam Singh Pannu farm leader, Gurvinder Singh Sidhu Human Rights Advocate, Roman Brar Zira Morcha, Police atrocities Victim families ,
representatives from Nihang Singh Jathebandis; and Kaka Singh Kotra, a leading voice in the farmers’ movement. Their presence underscored a growing unity among social, religious, and grassroots movements in demanding independent police accountability and an end to systemic abuses.
The citizens group pointed out that although the Punjab Police (Amendment) Act, 2014, and the Punjab Police Complaints Authority Rules, 2019, were created to establish State and Divisional Police Complaints Authorities, these institutions have failed to deliver justice. A temporary government notification issued in 2020 appointed serving bureaucrats and police officers to these authorities, undermining the independence and integrity of the mechanism.
Speaking at the rally, the group outlined a series of demands to restore public faith and ensure justice through independent oversight.
First, they called for the appointment of retired judges of the Supreme Court or High Court as chairpersons of the State-level Police Complaints Authority. The authority should include five members, with mandatory representation from SC/ST communities and women. Similarly, District-level Police Complaints Authorities should be headed by sitting District and Sessions Judges and also include five members with diverse representation.
Second, the selection of members and chairpersons must be carried out by a transparent and bipartisan committee including representatives from the government, the opposition, and legal authorities. Meetings of the selection committee should be audio-visually recorded and publicly accessible.
Third, all proceedings and investigations of the authorities must be video recorded. Complainants should be allowed to appear via video conferencing. Daily investigation updates must be published online. Officers assisting in inquiries must submit daily action-taken reports or face legal consequences.
Fourth, the group demanded that the authorities be granted powers to register FIRs, transfer investigations, and independently summon witnesses and documents. Complainants must receive copies of reports and evidence free of charge.
Fifth, the definition of “serious misconduct” must be expanded to include drug-related offences by police personnel. The group stressed that inaction by the police on the drug crisis continues to harm society and must be addressed through accountability.
