SIT head on sacrilege cases contradicts Ranjit panel report

Says police was on the receiving end at Kotkapura and had to take action

LUDHIANA: Deputy inspector general (DIG, Ludhiana Range) RS Khatra, who is heading the special investigation team (SIT) which is investigating the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Mallke and Gurusar villages near Bargari soon after the desecration incident at Bargari village in Faridkot, has contradicted the findings of Justice Ranjit Singh panel on Kotkapura police firing, saying it was the force which was at the receiving end.

“The protesters had outnumbered the police and also torched our vehicles. The police had retaliated in the presence of district administration officers and the action was necessary,” he said while addressing a press conference here.

The Ranjit Singh panel had called the police firing as “unwarranted” and indicted the then director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini and other top cops for it.

It has also questioned the role of former chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal on whether the DGP acted with or without his permission.

Khatra, however, went on to add that there was no pressure either from the previous SADBJP government or the present Congress government for favouring any person, religion or sect. “There was only one pressure, which was arrest of the accused at the earliest,” he said while addressing a press conference here.

The SAD was quick to dub Khatra’s statement as “condemnation” of the Ranjit panel report and the Congress government. “The panel has stated in the report that the involvement of Dera Sacha Sauda in the sacrilege incidents came to light only after the change of guard in state. But now a man in uniform, who is heading the SIT, has said he was not asked to go soft on dera during the previous regime. Khatra’s statement reveals the truth and belies government propaganda,” SAD spokesperson Mahesh Inder Grewal said.

Khatra said the police got a lead in the sacrilege cases after Panchkula violence following sentencing of sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim on charges of rape in August 2017, adding that the role of Dera Sacha Sauda followers has been established in sacrilege cases probed by him and Maur Mandi blast. “One of the accused, Mohinder Pal Bittu, is member of the 35-member committee of the dera,” he said.

On naming of cops in FIR for police firing at Behbal Kalan, Khatra said it is the decision of the government and he cannot comment on it. When asked if it will hit morale of the force, he said such things cannot affect the morale of Punjab Police.

The ruling Congress has accused Khatra of batting on both sides. “His son contested on Akali Dal ticket from Patiala rural in 2017 state polls. Khatra is under pressure from Akalis now. Why else is he giving an explanation without being asked for one,” a Congress MLA said.

› The protestors had outnumbered the police personnel and also torched our vehicles. The police had retaliated in the presence of district administration officers and the action was necessary RS KHATRA, DIG, Ludhiana Range