Probing ‘fake’ gunshots on police Gypsy, SIT detains 2

Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Faridkot, February 20

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In search of persons who allegedly fabricated 18 marks of gun pellets on the escort Gypsy of former Moga SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma in October 2015 to create an impression that the police fired in self-defence on protesters, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted raids at several places in Faridkot. Two persons have been rounded up.

One of them is a senior lawyer’s son. Preliminary investigation by the SIT revealed that accused police officers got marks of gunshots created on Charanjit Singh Sharma’s escort Gypsy to show that protesters had attacked the police and police had fired in defence. In this police firing, two persons were killed.

It is alleged that after the firing incident at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015, the escort Gypsy was brought to Faridkot to create bullet marks on it, which was done at the residence of the lawyer in Faridkot. This suspect is known to be close to an accused police officer.

Besides this suspect, the SIT is also searching for a car agency dealer. It is suspected that the police used a .12-bore gun of his private security guard to fabricate the bullet marks.

Defending its firing on the protesters, the police have taken the plea of self-defence. As per the FIR recorded by Amarjit Singh, the then Bajakhana SHO, around 500 persons had attacked police officials. The SIT claimed that as per the FIR, the police were attacked by protesters but no empties had been recovered from the spot.

The SIT is also relying on the statement of the escort Gypsy’s driver. The driver denied any shot was fired at the Gypsy. He has also argued about the protest site, shown by the police in the FIR. The dharna was not on the main road as it was claimed by the accused police officers.

The SIT claimed that the medical report of the deceased showed that shots were fired from a close range. The plea of the accused that the police fired in self-defence is also wrong as complete ammunition along with weapons issued to police officials was deposited in the police stations and there was no shortage of cartridges.

While Umranangal claimed that 35 police officials were injured in the attack by protesters, the SIT said only one Head Constable had received brickbat injuries.

Suspect close to accused cop

• It is alleged that after the firing incident at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015, the escort Gypsy was brought to Faridkot to create bullet marks on it, which was done at the residence of a lawyer in Faridkot. This suspect is known to be close to an accused police officer.
• Besides, the SIT is also searching for a car agency dealer. It is suspected that the police used a .12-bore gun of his private security guard to fabricate the bullet marks.