SIT to challenge interim relief to accused cops in high court

FARIDKOT: After the arrest of Punjab Police inspector general Paramraj Singh Umranangal, the special investigation team probing the 2015 firing incidents is all set to challenge in the Punjab and Haryana high court the interim relief granted to three cops — SP Bikramjit Singh, inspector Pardeep Singh and sub-inspector Amarjit Singh Kalar — accused in the Behbal Kalan firing cases.

When contacted, SIT member inspector general Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said they have taken the opinion of legal experts, but refused to disclose the feedback for “it could hamper the investigation”.

The three accused cops approached the high court after the Faridkot district and sessions court dismissed their anticipatory bail applications on February 2. Former Moga SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma, the fourth accused in the case, has also been arrested by SIT.

The Punjab and Haryana high court had stayed the arrest of the cops till May 21, and directed them to join the investigation. SP Bikramjit Singh and inspector Pardeep Singh have joined the investigation since, but Amarjit Singh is yet to join the probe.

On February 20, the Punjab and Haryana high court had said that the police can’t solely be blamed for the Behbal Kalan killings, while granting anticipatory bail to SI Amarjit Singh. “In normal circumstance, no police official fires on the mob, unless it is direly needed to avoid a troublesome situation involving mob,” said the HC in its order. The high court had also noted that petitioners’ custodial interrogation was not required.

In August last year, the names of the four cops were added to the FIR registered on October 21, 2015, under sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act at the Bajakhana police station following recommendations of Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission report.

THREE ACCUSED COPS HAD MOVED HC AFTER FARIDKOT DISTRICT AND SESSIONS COURT REJECTED THEIR ANTICIPATORY BAIL PLEA

SIT TO PRODUCE UMRANANGAL TODAY

The SIT will produce Punjab Police inspector general Paramraj Singh Umranangal in the Faridkot court on Saturday at the end of his four-day police remand. Umranangal was arrested by the SIT from the Punjab Police headquarters in Chandigarh on Monday in the Kotkapura firing case.