Sikh family attacked by neighbours had 'encroached upon common area'

A city-based Sikh family which complained to the Akal Takht in Amritsar that it has been the victim of assault and outrage of modesty apparently had encroached a common area in a gated community in Hulimavu here. The family was in dispute with their immediate neighbours and members of the Himagiri Meadows Welfare Association.

The family had said that the city police had turned a blind eye to its complaints. The Hulimavu police said they had registered an FIR three months ago when the assault took place on May 13, based on a complaint by R S Uppal, a retired army colonel and a resident of Himagiri Meadows, a gated community in Hulimavu. The police have arrested nine people in this connection and they are out on bail.

Uppal said his wife and two sons were assaulted. One of the sons, Harmeet Uppal, an IT professional in the US, suffered multiple fractures.

Police sources said the then police inspector of Hulimavu police station Vijay Kumar was probing the assault case and he did his best, despite the civil dispute. But the Sikh family was unhappy with the progress in the case, especially when the accused came out on bail.

One of the neighbours had purchased an independent villa adjacent to that of the Uppals. The neighbours and the residents’ welfare association members accused Uppal of encroaching into their common area and road by keeping flower pots, obstructing the movement of the neighbours. Quoting the neighbours, police said Uppal and his sons used to abuse them, whenever they asked them to clear the pots. On May 13, there was a heated argument between Uppal’s family and the neighbours, who assaulted Uppal’s sons.

Not satisfied with the police’s action in the case, the Uppals approached the Akal Takht. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had called up his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah, urging him to look into the case. The city police commissioner was apprised of the case and the case was transferred from Hulimavu station to Suddaguntepalya station.