Chandigarh: A policeman was beaten to death in Punjab’s Barnala during an altercation between a restaurant owner and a group of kabaddi players over food and drinks bill.
The restaurant owner called police after the kabaddi players refused to pay the bill.
Once the police team reached the restaurant, the cops tried to intervene in the scuffle between the two parties. As the policemen were trying to take the kabaddi players away, they allegedly attacked head constable Darshan Singh, inflicting grievous injuries which killed him, reported NDTV.
According eyewitness Sarabjit Singh, four kabaddi players consumed alcohol at the 22 Acre Market restaurant on Sunday night. A dispute and heated argument broke out with restaurant staff as the quartet was leaving without paying the bill, forcing the owner to dial police helpline.
The cops’ efforts to resolve the issue didn’t work out and they asked the kabaddi players to board the police vehicle.
The head constable, who was pushed and shoved to the floor, suffered head injuries. His colleagues rushed the 50-year-old Darshan to the civil hospital, but he succumbed to the injuries.
The accused vandalised the restaurant and fled.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann condemned the “very unfortunate” incident and said the culprits will be caught soon and punished.
He announced Rs 1 crore for the constable’s family.
