Class XI boy’s death: Family raises questions on police investigation

Harshabab Sidhu

Mohali, March 22

A day after the police apprehended two roommates of Harmanjit Singh (16), whose body was found in the washroom of the Senior Secondary Meritorious School in Sector 70 here under mysterious circumstances on March 9, the victim’s kin alleged that they were not satisfied with the police investigation as several angles still remained unrevealed.

The family members alleged that the police had gone silent after apprehending both boys. They had not told them about the forensic and DNA research of blood stains that were found in the washroom and room of the hostel, they alleged.

Satnam Singh Daun, president of Punjab against Corruption, said, “The police have not shown us the CCTV footages of the hostel. Also, no one from the school authorities was questioned. We are watching the investigation under suspicion.”

The victim’s father, Tarsem Singh, said, “I know my son will never return, but I want that such a tragedy should not happen with anyone’s son. The police have failed to deliver us justice.”

ASP (City) Ashwini Gotiyal said the forensic teams had conducted research of all stains. “The forensic and doctors teams thoroughly checked the stains and also videographed the spot. It was found that one of the blood stains was old and had developed through a boy’s nose. The unconfirmed samples of stains were sent to forensic lab.”

The parents of both boys, who are juvenile, produced them before the Mohali police following which the duo was apprehended. The duo was produced in the juvenile court, which sent them to the juvenile home at Hoshiarpur yesterday.

On asking about the actual cause of murder, the police said both boys were not giving any satisfactory answers. Inspector Rajiv Kumar said, “We were questioning the boys for the past few days. They had given us contradictory statements. It was checked through the CCTV footage that both boys entered the hostel room at 6.20 pm and left the room at 6.58 pm. But during questioning, they said they were not present there at the time of the incident.”

SP (City) HS Virk said, “We cannot disclose the details as the boys are juvenile and also, the matter is being investigated.”