Fact-finding committee presses for CBI probe monitored by HC
KEDAR SINGH JINDAN WAS KILLED ON SEPTEMBER 7 NEAR HIS NATIVE VILLAGE PAAB IN SIRMAUR DIST
SHIMLA: The fact-finding team constituted by members of social work organisations have pressed the government for high court monitored CBI probe into the death of Right to Information (RTI) and Dalit right activist Kedar Singh Jindan.
The members of fact-finding team during their stay in region interacted with the members of dalit community, representatives of panchayat and police officers investigating the case.
The fact-finding team concluded in their report that there are more than two people, who have been arrested by the police so far, involved in the killing.
Mansi Asher of citizen rights forum, who complied the report, said police have yet not arrested real culprits behind Jindan’s killing. The report further said that Jindan had specifically raised the issue of traditional practices which were caste-based and involved exploitation of those considered ‘lower’ in the caste hierarchy. The report also alleges corruption in government jobs.
“Members of concerned organisations who were aware of Jindan’s work called for an independent fact finding into this case,” said Mansi Asher, member of citizen rights forum.
Kedar Singh Jindan who was killed on September 7 near his village Paab in Sirmaur district was a practising lawyer at HP high court and worked on cases of caste-based discrimination on Dalits and other marginalised communities. Kedar Singh Jindan was first brutally beaten and then run over by SUV. His killing had led to outrage in both Shilai and Shimla.
Following protests, police had assured fair probe and arrested two persons Jai Parkash, Up-pradhan of local Bakras panchayat and Gopal. A special investigation team was set up to probe the killing.
The fact-finding committee was constituted by the members of several social work organisations such as Dalit Vikas Sangathan, Sirmaur, Centre for Mountain Dalit Rights, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, National Dalit Movement for Justice, Human Rights Defenders and Kangra Citizens Rights Group.