A scene of intense high-voltage drama and chaos unfolded in Sandhwan village, located in the Faridkot district of Punjab, when a police team carried out a sudden raid at a wedding venue. The police arrived right in the middle of the sacred Anand Karaj rituals and detained the bride's foster father, Gareeb Singh alias Raju, in connection with theft allegations. The unexpected law enforcement action provoked severe opposition from family members and wedding guests, triggering heated altercations, shoving, and physical scuffles at the celebratory gathering.
Commotion and Protests Escalate at the Wedding Venue
The arrival of the police team quickly turned the wedding festivities into a chaotic scene as family members clashed with officers. According to eyewitnesses, as the police attempted to take Gareeb Singh alias Raju into custody, relatives fiercely resisted the detention. Demonstrating extreme protest, one individual even laid down directly in front of the police vehicle to block its path. Allegations surfaced that police personnel forcefully dragged the protester off the track before driving away with Gareeb Singh. Amid the escalating tension, a police officer was also spotted holding a pistol in his hand, further adding to the fear and commotion among the wedding attendees.
Family Claims Forced Removal in UP Vehicle and Framing Attempt
Detailing the incident, the bride's brother explained that the family was engaged in performing the sacred Anand Karaj ceremony when individuals in civilian clothes, identifying themselves as personnel from the Gidderbaha police station, arrived at the venue. They forcefully picked up his foster father, citing his alleged involvement in cases involving the theft of transformers and agricultural motors. The family further pointed out that Gareeb Singh was bundled into a vehicle bearing a Uttar Pradesh (UP) registration number. While acknowledging that his foster father's name had previously surfaced in a theft case, the brother asserted that he had abandoned all such activities long ago. The family accused the police of attempting to implicate him in an entirely unrelated or fabricated case.
Police Account: FIR History, Theft Syndicate, and Tip-Off Raid
Presenting the official law enforcement stance, Gidderbaha Police Station Station House Officer (SHO) Parvinder Singh refuted the allegations made by the family. The SHO confirmed that an official First Information Report (FIR) stands registered against Gareeb Singh alias Raju regarding the theft of electricity transformers and motors. Police investigations indicate that the suspect operated as part of an organized crime gang executing thefts across the area. Five other members of this criminal syndicate had already been apprehended prior to this operation. SHO Parvinder Singh stated that officers received specific intelligence that the wanted suspect had come to attend a wedding in Sandhwan village. Acting on this tip-off, a police squad comprising both uniformed officers and plainclothes personnel raided the venue to execute the arrest.
Denial of Assault Allegations and Formal Booking at Kotkapura
SHO Parvinder Singh clarified that the arrested individual is the bride's foster father rather than her biological father. Dismissing the family's accusations of police brutality, the officer maintained that law enforcement personnel did not assault anyone present at the function. Instead, he stated that certain family members initiated a scuffle with the police team to obstruct the lawful arrest. The police confirmed that the formal documentation and legal proceedings regarding Gareeb Singh's arrest have been officially logged at the Kotkapura police station. However, as video footage of the chaotic raid circulated online, significant questions have emerged regarding the manner of the police intervention amidst conflicting claims from both sides.
