Jhaloor case: Dalit witnesses accuse SIT of dragging feet

SANGRUR: Accusing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of failing to record their statements under Section 15(A) of the SC/ST Act in the Jhaloor case despite court directions, 10 Dalit witnesses submitted their written statements along with affidavits in a local court today.

Jhaloor case witnesses with their advocate in a Sangrur court on Saturday. tribune photo

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 8

Accusing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of failing to record their statements under Section 15(A) of the SC/ST Act in the Jhaloor case despite court directions, 10 Dalit witnesses submitted their written statements along with affidavits in a local court today. They have also requested the court to monitor the ongoing investigation. Section 15(A) stipulates that all proceedings relating to offences under the Act have to be videographed.

On October 5, 2016, Dalits and landlords had clashed at Jhaloor village in the district over the possession of village common land reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Gurdev Kaur, a Dalit, had sustained serious injuries. She died at the PGIMER, Chandigarh, on November 11. The police had registered a case against 33 persons in November 2016, but only five have been arrested so far. The SIT was formed in February this year to re-investigate the case.

Mukesh Malaud, a senior leader of the Jhaloor Jabar Virodhi Action Committee — a group of 12 farmer organisations – said: “SIT members are refusing to record the witnesses’ statements on camera despite our repeated visits to senior police officers. We have sought strict action against them and asked the court to monitor the investigation.”

He stated that in February, the SIT had sought permission from the court to re-investigate the case. The court had directed the police that further investigation should be conducted in compliance with Section 15(A) of the Act. Malaud said the SIT members feared that their “biased” investigation would be exposed if the recording of statements was videographed.

Advocate Rajnish Rana said they had submitted the statements in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Joshi. “Cops are not complying with the court’s directions regarding Section 15(A). The court has issued a notice to the state government for April 18,” he added.

The SIT, led by Sangrur SP(D) Sewa Singh Malhi, includes Lehra SHO Harvinder Singh and Moonak DSP Ajay Pal Singh.

When contacted, Malhi said he was busy in a meeting. SHO Harvinder Singh said: “There is no delay on our part. We are conducting a fair investigation.” When asked whether they had recorded the statement of any witness or victim on camera, he evaded a reply.

DSP Ajay Pal Singh said he could comment on the matter only after going through the files.

Handicapped Dalit bludgeoned to death in jaito

Faridkot: A polio-afflicted Dalit man, Parmal Singh (33), was bludgeoned to death at Surghuri village in Jaito subdivision on Saturday. The body, with the head smashed, was found outside the village. Two youths allegedly kidnapped Parmal from his house and then murdered him over an old rivalry. One of the accused,

Gurwinder Singh, was returning home after the killing when his bike rammed into a tree. He was rushed to a private hospital in Ludhiana. Police sources said Parmal had clashed with Baljit Singh about 12 year ago. Baljit had suffered serious injuries, while Parmal had spent several months

in jail after an attempt of murder case was registered against him. In a bid to take revenge, Baljit’s son Jaskaran Singh and the latter’s friend, Gurwinder, allegedly murdered Parmal. A case has been registered under Section 302 of the IPC, said Jatinder Singh, Jaito SHO. TNS

SC woman, daughter thrashed in Moga village Moga:

A Dalit woman and her daughter were allegedly thrashed by upper-caste residents of her village. The accused also attempted to burn their house at Daudhar Sharki village on Saturday. The victim, Paramjit Kaur, was admitted to a government hospital. Her daughter, Jaswinder Kaur, also suffered minor injuries, but she was discharged after first aid. In a

statement to the police, Paramjit said six persons came on a tractor and thrashed her. They also tried to burn her house. A case under Sections 452, 324, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered against Harmel Singh, Prem Singh, Gurbax Singh, Ajmer Singh, Amrik Singh and Kalu, all residents of Daudhar Sharki village, at Badhni Kalan police station. No one has been arrested so far. Investigating officer Pritam Singh said he had raided the houses and possible hideouts of the accused persons, who were evading arrest. TNS