Probe moving at snail’s pace, reveals SIT report

CHANDIGARH: A report submitted by Haryana police’s special investigation team (SIT) on the violence that broke out in Panchkula and other parts of the state after Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s conviction in a rape case in August 2017 revealed that no tangible feat has been achieved in the probe.

The report was filed by SIT head and director general of police (crime) PK Agrawal before the full bench presided by the chief justice Krishna Murari. More than 30 persons had died in Panchkula and widespread damage to public and private properties was reported from across Haryana and Punjab in the violence.

A total of 240 FIRS were registered across the state in connection with the August 25 violence and in 207 cases, challans were presented and 1,511 people were arrested, the report says. No fresh challan has been filed between September 26, 2018, when state had given its last progress report and now. However, the number of arrests have gone up from 1,484 to 1,511. Regarding the case of inciting violence registered in Panchkula, the SIT has been able to make only one arrest during this period and the number of accused arrested stands at 40, the report reveals. Aditya Insan, the alleged main conspirator and Ram Rahim’s key aide, still remains at large. For investigation against him and other such accused who are still at large, a core group of officers was constituted in October 2018. SIT says this group has been able to arrest 24 persons