Punjab home dept recommends FIR against 10 cops

GOVT IN A FIX OVER TAKING ACTION AGAINST SENIOR OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY THE JUSTICE RANJIT SINGH PANEL

CHANDIGARH: Following the findings of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report on the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing, the Punjab home department has recommended registration of attempt to murder case against 10 police officials, including former Moga superintendent of police (SSP) Charanjit Sharma.

The home department has this week sent recommendation to the Punjab DGP to register case against cops who allegedly fired at people protesting against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015. Two persons were killed in the firing. Officials say the DGP is likely to take a decision in the coming days.

The department has sought FIRS against then Moga SSP Charanjit Sharma, then Bathinda SP Bikramjit Singh, inspectors Pardeep Singh and Harpal Singh, then SHO of Ladhowal in Ludhiana, sub-inspector Arriarjit Singh and constables Harpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Parminder Singh, it is learnt.

Addressing a press conference on July 30, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the commission recommended police officials to be named as accused in an FIR registered at the Bajakhana police station on October 21, 2015. However, no person has been named in the FIR so far.

The Punjab government has already decided to hand over the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing case to the CBI.

The commission report is to be tabled in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha’s monsoon session, likely to begin from August 16. Naming police officials in the FIR will fulfil the demand of Sikh hardliners who are protesting in Bargari since June 1, a senior government functionary said.

Meanwhile, the government seems to be in a fix over taking action against senior officials, including former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, who have been “indicted” by the commission for their role handling the protestors at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan.

As initiating action against police officials could open a Pandora’s box for the police that is already divided in factions, the government wants the CBI to probe their role in the case, a senior official said.