In a shocking incident of child cruelty, a Punjab Police sub-inspector has been placed under immediate suspension after a video of him tying his five-year-old granddaughter to a metal gate under the scorching sun went viral. The incident, which took place in the Bathinda district on Wednesday, sparked widespread outrage across social media and prompted swift action from the state’s senior police leadership. The minor was reportedly left tied to the gate for over an hour in temperatures exceeding 42°C as a form of “punishment” for minor mischief, leading to local residents intervening and filming the ordeal to alert the authorities.
Following the viral footage, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) ordered a departmental inquiry and the immediate suspension of the officer, identified as Sub-Inspector Balwinder Singh. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) issued a statement condemning the act, emphasizing that personnel are expected to uphold the law and demonstrate basic humanity, both in public and private life. The child has since been rescued and provided with medical attention for heat exhaustion, while child welfare officials have been directed to monitor the family’s situation to ensure the minor’s safety moving forward.
