SIT files chargesheet against EX-DGP Saini, Umranangal

THE COURT OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE HAS ISSUED SUMMONS TO BOTH FOR FEBRUARY 9

FARIDKOT: The Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) probing the 2015 police firing incidents on Friday filed a chargesheet against former director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini and suspended inspector general of police (IGP) Paramraj Singh Umranangal in the FIR registered on October 14, 2015, in connection with the Behbal Kalan firing incident.

The SIT named Saini and Umranangal as accused in a supplementary chargesheet filed in the court of judicial magistrate Suresh Kumar. The court has issued summons to both the accused for next hearing on February 9.

The move comes days after Umranangal filed a petition in Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking quashing of FIRS registered against him in connection with Kotkapura and Behabal Kalan firing cases. Umranangal had urged the court to issue directions to remove IG Kunwar Vijay

Pratap Singh from SIT.

In September, a member of the SIT, IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap, had told a Faridkot court that former DGP Saini and Umranangal were the main conspirators in the Behbal Kalan firing episode. Later, both were named accused in the case.

Earlier, SIT filed chargesheet against former Moga senior superintendent of police Charanjit Singh Sharma, superintendent of police (SP) Bikramjit Singh, inspector Amarjit Singh Kular, Moga-based car dealer Pankaj Bansal and Faridkotbased lawyer Sohail Singh Brar.

However, one accused inspector Pardeep Singh has turned approver in the case. “The wrong attitude of former DGP Saini, IG Umranangal and former Moga SSP Sharma resulted in police firing incidents at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura on October 14, 2015, Pardeep has claimed in his 18-page statement before a Faridkot court in September.

“Umranangal was in constant touch with Saini over phone. After one such call, Umranangal told the officers that the DGP had ordered lifting the dharna at any cost and had also instructed to open fire, if required,” he stated.

The SIT has given details of 22 phone calls to the court, allegedly made between Umranangal and Saini on October 14, 2015. The SIT claimed that its investigation had found that Umranangal was in constant touch with Saini and after getting directions from him, he told the then SSP Sharma and others to use force on the protesters.

Gurjeet Singh of Sarawan village and Krishan Bhagwan Singh of Niamiwala village had died in the police firing on October 14, 2015, while protesting against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib. Besides, many were seriously injured.