NIA TO PROBE RSS LEADER’S MURDER
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has decided to hand over the case of murder of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that primarily deals with matters of terrorism. Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh issued the orders on Thursday while announcing ~5 lakh compensation for the family and a government job, commensurate with educational qualifications, for one of the children of the deceased.
Gosain had lost his wife to cancer some years ago and is survived by four children. Orders for NIA probe were issued on a request by a delegation of the RSS that met the CM at his residence.
A spokesman said the CM acceded to the RSS request taking into account the “international ramifications” of the case. Investigations so far in similar incidents suggest that the handlers of the assailants were operating from foreign soil, added the spokesperson, further saying that Amarinder felt, with NIA stepping in, “it would lead to better coordination between central agencies and the Punjab police”.
TWO COPS SUSPENDED FOR IGNORING PLAINT
LUDHIANA: Two head constables deputed at Millerganj police post were suspended on Thursday for negligence in a motorcycle theft case. The same vehicle was used in the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain early on October 17. The bike was found abandoned in Ladhowal on October 18. Police have also booked two unknown persons for murder and are scanning CCTV footage from the area to identify the accused.
The motorcycle used in the crime was stolen on October 10 near Dholewal. The owner, Lohara resident Rohit Pal, lodged a complaint at Millerganj police post the same day, but police did not take action. Dhoke took note of the negligence and suspended head constables Deep Chand and Balraj Singh. Division 2 station house officer (SHO) Ashok Kumar said they were on duty after police post in-charge Sukhdev Singh went to the high court for a hearing.
The head constables neither registered a case nor inform Sukhdev Singh of the theft. They assumed it could be the handiwork of a drug addict or a gang that stole for money. Sukhdev, on the other hand, claimed that he was not informed of the theft. He only got to know when the cops told him the motorcycle was stolen from Dholewal Chowk after police discovered on Wednesday that it was used in the crime.
Police said they questioned the original owner Krishna who said he sold his bike to Rohit, who is the complainant. Rohit told police that Krishna did not transfer the ownership to his name, adding that it was stolen and he lodged a complaint at Millerganj.
ANNOUNCES ~5 LAKH COMPENSATION FOR KIN AND A GOVERNMENT JOB FOR ONE OF THE CHILDREN OF GOSAIN