SIT ‘picks up’ two dera followers from Covid ward; court moved

FARIDKOT: The defence alleged wrongful confinement after the special investigation team (SIT) probing the 2015 sacrilege cases picked up two Dera Sacha Sauda followers from the Covid ward of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, in a case relating to pasting of derogatory posters near the gurdwara in Bargari village.

According to official sources, the SIT detained Sukhjinder Singh, alias Sunny, of Kotkapura and Baljit Singh of Sikhanwala village on Friday and took them to the Bajakhana police station.

The SIT, led by inspector general of police, border range, Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, had on May 17 arrested the duo along with Nishan Singh, Ranjit Singh, Pardeep Kumar and Shakti Singh in a case registered in connection with a sacrilege incident wherein torn pages of “bir” (copy of Guru Granth Sahib) were found scattered at Bargari village in Faridkot district in 2015. The court had sent them to police custody till May 21.

However, Sukhjinder, Baljit and Nishan tested positive for Covid-19 on May 19, after which they were admitted to the Faridkot hospital.

A complaint was filed in the court of chief judicial magistrate Sanjeev Kundi on Saturday alleging that the SIT has violated the court orders, dated May 21, by wrongfully confining Sukhjinder and Baljit.

Defence counsel Vinod Monga alleged that inspectors Dalbir Singh and Iqbal Hussain of the SIT had wrongfully taken the two from the Covid ward on Friday. “So, the necessary intimation is being given with request for the release of the accused from the wrongful police confinement and to get them in judicial custody,” the petition stated.

The defence also requested for a report along with CCTV footage of the Bajakhana police station on the relevant dates and hospital records of the duo. The court has directed the SIT to file a reply by May 31. However, the SIT sought production warrants of Sukhjinder and Baljit, which the court issued for May 31.

Faridkot judicial magistrate Tarjini in the order dated May 21 had said that since the accused are admitted at the Covid ward, they cannot be sent to further police remand and “are hereby remanded to judicial custody till June 1”. She had also directed the investigation officer to get their Covid tests conducted and produce the results on the fixed date.

Meanwhile, a Faridkot court on Saturday sent their two co-accused, Shakti Singh and Ranjit Singh, to judicial custody till June 10.