Ranjit Singh panel records statements in Nawanshahr
PROBE TRAIL Commission visited five villages in the district; will submit report in six months
NAWANSHAHR: The Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh commission on Thursday visited five villages of Nawanshahr and interacted with the villagers to gather data and information regarding sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib and other religious books.
The commission, which was set up by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh after coming to power, has been probing all sacrilege cases — including those involving the Bhagvad Gita and the holy Quran, besides Guru Granth Sahib that took place in the state.
The commission was constituted after the CM quashed the inquiry done by the justice Zora Singh commission, which was constituted by the Shiromani Akali Dal during their regime, citing it as “inconclusive”.As per information, the panel has visited the spots, where sacrilege incidents took place in villages, including Garhi Kanugoa, Jhander Kalan, Khothra, Talwandi Jattan and Saroya.
Justice Ranjit Singh listened to the villagers and panchayat members of the villages concerned to gather information regarding the incidents and recorded their statements.
Manminder Singh, superintendent of police (investigation), who was accompanying the panel, said that while interacting with the villagers and witnesses in the cases, the panel verified the detailed facts, circumstances and chronology of the events of what actually happened.
Justice Ranjit Singh also asked villagers to visit his office at the fifth floor of the forest complex in Mohali on January 17, if they want to give more information on the incidents.
The commission has been given six months to submit its report. It will look into all matters of sacrilege, including the Kotakpura incident, which led to death of two persons.
The retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana HC has been mandated to look into the inconclusive investigation done by police officers after the incidents took place. Punjab chief CM Amarinder Singh had promised the electorate to initiate the enquiry after he came to power.