Sources said that on Friday evening, Ajab Singh, Station House Officer, Nabha City, received information that a woman was seen “loitering” in the old abandoned fort at Nabha along with two men. After conducting a raid, the officer arrested the three and booked them under Section 109 of the IPC.

“The woman was taken to the police station and was put behind bars following which the policemen started harassing her,” sources told Newsline.

“For the fear of being harassed further, the woman tried to commit suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling using her dupatta,” sources added. The SHO had reportedly not deployed any woman police officer while Chandini was lodged in the police station or even after she was admitted to the hospital.

Dr Harinder Singh, who is attending to Chandini, said, “She has an acute respiratory problem and is on ventilator.”

While the concerned SHO refused to comment on the issue, Superintendent of Police, Patiala, Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, maintained that Chandni was not harassed in the police station.

“When the officers were ready to register her statement, the woman said she wanted to go to the bathroom. Chandini tried to hang herself there using her dupatta and it was these officers who saved her life,” he said.

Arpit Shukla, Special Superintendent of Police, Patiala, said he has ordered a departmental inquiry into the matter and has also asked the Patiala DC to order a magisterial inquiry.