Gurdaspur 'encounter': HC seeks Punjab DGP’s affidavit; says ‘can’t shut our eyes’ to questions

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday asked Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav to file an affidavit by March 17, explaining the circumstances surrounding the alleged encounter of Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur after he joined the court proceedings through video-conferencing.

“We can’t shut our eyes (to the questions being raised around the encounters),” the bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda observed after amicus curiae Tanu Bedi referred to reports on alleged encounter killings in Punjab, submitting that the incidents appeared to reflect a discernible pattern.

Appearing for the state, senior advocate Puneet Bali submitted that proper procedure was being followed in accordance with the guidelines issued by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Thus, the matter was also being looked into by a magistrate.

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Bali also outlined steps being taken by the government to strengthen policing and ensure accountability. He submitted that a new transfer policy for police officers above the rank of Inspector had been finalised and forwarded for Cabinet approval.

During the proceedings, the DGP also told the court that all mandatory procedures and the guidelines issued by NHRC had been scrupulously followed in the case. He added that the Chief Judicial Magistrate had already taken cognisance and issued directions, while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had also been constituted to probe the incident.

The bench had earlier in the day taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. The court noted that the material placed before it suggested that the deceased youth was about 19 years old and had no prior criminal record. Issuing notice, the bench made it clear that the state’s stand would be taken into account in the matter before proceeding further. “We will give you time to respond. You have to satisfy us. We will take further course of action only after response from you,” the bench told the DGP.

Expressing concern over similarities in recent encounter incidents reported from the state, the court observed that such developments were raising questions about adherence to the “rule of law”, particularly in a case where the deceased had no criminal antecedents.

“You may catch them, but you cannot take the law totally into your hands. They have to be dealt with in accordance with law,” the bench remarked.

Earlier, Bedi informed the court that media reports suggested several encounters that took place in the recent past and appeared to follow a similar pattern.

The court was also informed that 500 additional patrolling vehicles had been introduced to reinforce field policing and that more personnel were being deployed for patrol duties. In addition, about one acre of land in Mohali had been earmarked for setting up a facility aimed at strengthening the emergency response system.