Armed police storm Hitchin man’s home after tyre pops

  • Sukhi Rayat was sitting in his BMW on his drive when police with dogs swooped
  • Unit shoved him and his teen son against a wall, cuffed them and searched home
  • Mr Rayat described incident as a ‘horrendous ordeal’ and is furious at police 

Armed police raided a man’s family home over reports of a gunshot after his car suffered a flat tyre.

Sukhi Rayat had parked his BMW X1 on his drive, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, when he was stormed by a dozen rifle-wielding officers with dogs.

The unit shoved him and his 17-year-old son Harkeert against a wall and put them in handcuffs as they searched the family home.

Sukhi Rayat with his mother Krishna Rayat, 75, and his children Manmeet Kaur, 20, and Harkeert Rayat, 17

Mr Rayat described the incident as a ‘horrendous ordeal’ and is furious that his family were subjected to such treatment in full view of his neighbours. 

He told the Comet: ‘It was like something you’d see on TV.’

‘I unlocked the door, and the officer pointed his gun at me and told me to put my hands up – then he grabbed me and threw me against the wall.

‘They had me out there on the main road, being searched in handcuffs.

The Rayat's did not hear the 'gunshot' sound but believe it could have come from a puncture  they noticed on their car (pictured) after travelling into Hitchin town centre

The Rayat’s did not hear the ‘gunshot’ sound but believe it could have come from a puncture  they noticed on their car (pictured) after travelling into Hitchin town centre

‘We’re quite well-known in the Sikh community here, so this was very embarrassing.’

The raid was executed after a member of the public reported a gunshot coming from Mr Rayat’s car.

The father-of-two called the accusation ‘ludicrous’.

None of the Rayat family heard the sound, but believe it could have come from a puncture they noticed after travelling into Hitchin town centre.

A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman apologised for any offence caused but said officers had a ‘duty to act’ on any reports received. 

 

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