Sikhs approach HC for in-depth probe into youth’s killing

JAMMU: The Sikh community, including members of the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Board (DGPC), Jammu, has approached the J&K High Court for an in-depth inquiry into the death of a Sikh youth, Jashjeet Singh, who was allegedly killed in a police firing at Gadi Garh on June 4.

Members of the J&K State Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Board address the media in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: A Singh

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 24

The Sikh community, including members of the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Board (DGPC), Jammu, has approached the J&K High Court for an in-depth inquiry into the death of a Sikh youth, Jashjeet Singh, who was allegedly killed in a police firing at Gadi Garh on June 4.

“A writ petition has been filed in the J&K High Court in Jammu calling for an in-depth investigation into the death of the Sikh youth in a police firing on June 4. These firing orders were issued by the SSP, Jammu, Uttam Chand, on the instructions of higher-ups and there were no magisterial orders to open fire on the protesting Sikh youths,” Sudershan Singh Wazir, former president, J&K State Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Board, told reporters here.

He said the recently elected five members of the DGPC, Jammu — Avtar Singh Khalsa, Raja Singh, Ramneek Singh, Fateh Singh and Dharbinder Singh — were petitioners in the writ petition in which the “farce” of conducting an inquiry by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, who himself was heading the divisional administration at the time of the incident, had been called into question along with a “manipulated” FIR at the Satwari police station.

“No further action has been taken by the Special Investigation Team, headed by the SP, Headquarters, Jammu, after the registration of the FIR,” Wazir alleged.

He also criticised the role of the Sikh community representatives who had entered into negotiations with the government that said the SSP, Jasmmu, had been transferred and all other issues of the community had been sorted out.

Wazir said the community had demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the deceased’s family and court-monitored investigation through the CBI.

On June 4, Jashjeet Singh (24), was allegedly killed in a police firing during a protest against removal of a hoarding of Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He was a resident of Chouhla village, a few kilometres away from the international border with Pakistan in the RS Pura area.