Kotkapura firing case: SIT records statement of key witness Taranvir

FARIDKOT : A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing cases of police firing on anti-sacrilege protesters in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan after the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari in October 2015 recorded the statement of a key witness on Monday.

The witness, Taranvir Singh, of Patiala, was on the spot with Ajit Singh, a victim in the Kotkapura firing case, when he (Ajit) was hit by a police bullet. Taranvir’s statement was recorded at the SIT camp office in Faridkot on Monday under the supervision of team member and inspector general, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.

Sources said that in his statement, Taranvir has told the SIT that police surrounded the protesters, used water cannons and then fired directly at protesters, inflicting bullet injuries on Ajit.

“Ajit Singh fell near the roadside, when the police action started. I was trying to take him to safety, but soon other cops surrounded us and beat us mercilessly, I realised he also had a bullet injury and took him to the hospital,” Taranvir told SIT.

The SIT traced Taranvir after it recovered some pictures of police action in Kotkapura that had him in the frame.

The SIT has also recorded the statements of doctors of a Kotkapura private hospital, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, and Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, where Ajit had received treatment.

80% PROBE COMPLETE

IG Pratap said, “The SIT has competed 80% of its probe into police firing cases started in October 2018. We have been waiting for the verdict of Punjab and Haryana high court in the case.”

He added that six-seven key persons, including former Moga SSP, Charanjit Sharma, were left for questioning as the SIT could not summon them due to a stay by the high court.

“We will even conduct a liedetector test, if needed in the probe. Till now, the SIT has quizzed more than 200 witnesses, including police or civil officials, and private witnesses,” the IG added.