SIT sets up camp office in Faridkot, starts probe
Fivemember team reviews investigation carried out in the last three years; has to submit status report in high court on November 14
FARIDKOT : The five-member special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab Police formed by Amarinder Singh-led government on police firing at anti-sacrilege Sikhs protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura in 2015 set up its camp office in Faridkot on Friday and started probe in the case.
Two persons had died in firing at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015. The SIT, headed by additional director general of police (ADGP) Prabodh Kumar, who is also director of the bureau of investigation, with other team members — inspector general of police (IGP) Arunpal Singh, Kapurthala superintendent of police (SSP) Satinder Singh and commandant Bhupinder Singh — reviewed the status of the probe so far.
SIT has sprung into action since it has to submit the case status report in the Punjab and Haryana high court on November 14.
On August 11 this year, the names of four policemen were added in the FIR (first information report), registered in 2015, in the Behbal Kalan firing episode on the recommendation of the Justice Ranjit (retd) Singh Commission of Inquiry.
The four — the then Moga SSP Charanjit Sharma, then Fazilka SSP (detective) Bikramjit Singh, inspector Pardeep Singh, then Bajakhana station house officer (SHO) Amarjit Singh — have procured stay from the Punjab and Haryana high court against the state government proceedings against them. An FIR against unidentified cops was registered in the Kotkapura firing case.
SHOS OF KOTKAPURA, BAJAKHANA CALLED
The SIT also summoned the investigation officers (mostly SHOS posted at Kotkapura or Bajakhana police stations since 2015) to its camp office to get their statements in connection the incidents.
Later, the team also visited the spots in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan where police firing incidents took place.
ADGP Kumar said, “The people of Punjab will trust the SIT’S professionalism as we will try our level best to take the investigation to a logical conclusion. The probe will be fair and time-bound. The purpose of the visit is to find out gaps in the probe conducted so far, if any. We have prepared our action plan.”
A 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Kumar had led investigation into highprofile cases such as the Agustawestland chopper purchase case when he was deputed with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
‘AMARINDER-LED GOVT BETRAYED PEOPLE’
The MLA said the Congress government, particularly five of its ministers who spoke during the debate on the Ranjit Singh Commission report in the state assembly, promised action against Badal, Saini and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim but nothing was done. “The Congress is misusing its majority and has betrayed the people. I have resigned to put pressure on the government,” he said.
On being asked if he would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, Phoolka, who was the AAP nominee from Ludhiana in the 2014 parliamentary poll, said he had not made up his mind. Punjab AAP state co-president Dr Balbir Singh said this was his (Phoolka’s) personal, emotional decision and he had informed the party leadership.
Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira, who is heading the AAP rebels, said Phoolka did not any consultation them, but they respected his feelings. Asked if he and other party MLAS supporting him were also considering quitting their seats to put pressure on the state government, Khaira said, “It is a platform where you can fight against all types of injustice. If you quit, what can you do for them thereafter,” he said.
Phoolka had first talked about his resignation on September 1, giving 15 days to the government act against the duo. He later deferred his resignation as the high court stayed the proceedings initiated by the state government against three former cops.
The probe will be fair and timebound. The purpose our visit is to find gaps in the probe held so far, if any. We have prepared our action plan PRABODH KUMAR, SIT head
‘GOVT’S PRE-PLANNED STRATEGY’
Khaira, while terming the state government’s approach as “callous”, said the advocate general’s office which had 200 advocates was defunct. “This is a preplanned strategy,” he alleged.
The Bholath MLA accused CM Amarinder Singh of working at behest of the BJP government at the centre which is trying to protect leaders of its old ally, the Akali Dal. He asked the CM to make public details of his recent meeting with Union home minister Rajnath Singh.