Justice Ranjit: Police probe not proper in some sacrilege cases

BATHINDA : Justice Ranjit Singh (retired), who is on the one-man commission investigating the incidents of sacrilege of religious books in Punjab, on Tuesday said the police did not conduct a thorough probe into some of the cases.

Talking to mediapersons on the first day of his two-day visit to investigate cases of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Bathinda and Mansa districts, he said the commission has shared its view with the police department and asked for further probe in these cases from other angles also.

He said the panel will mention its view in its report to the state government on the possible motives behind intentional desecrations.

He said the commission’s investigation is almost complete and he is hopeful of submitting report to state government within two months. “The state government had handed over 122 cases of desecration which took place during the tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal-bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) regime but during investigation it emerged that the number actually is higher.”

After the Congress came to power in Punjab in March last year, Capt Amarinder Singh-led government set up the commission of inquiry to probe incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and other religious texts.

“Nearly 15 incidents took place during the tenure of this

Govt handed over 122 cases of desecration which took place during SADBJP tenure, but it emerged that the number actually is higher. JUSTICE RANJIT SINGH (retd), head of panel probing sacrilege cases

government and we have sought permission to investigate some cases that took place recently,” he said.

About SAD president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal having defied the summons to appear before the commission, he said there was nothing political in it as it is within the panel’s right to summon a person.

He, however, said the commission can draw inference from a person’s refusal to appear before it.

He said the panel in its report intends to suggest remedial measures to be taken to stop desecration incidents.