Karnal protest: Statements of ITI principal, staff recorded

KARNAL: Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Narender Kumar Malik on Sunday recorded the statements of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) principal Baldev Singh and staff members in connection with the April 12 incident, in which the police used batons and tear gas to disperse students who allegedly indulged in stone pelting to protest the death of am ITI student after coming under the wheels of a roadways bus.

Protesting students throw stones at security personnel in Karnal. File photo

Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, April 14

Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Narender Kumar Malik on Sunday recorded the statements of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) principal Baldev Singh and staff members in connection with the April 12 incident, in which the police used batons and tear gas to disperse students who allegedly indulged in stone pelting to protest the death of am ITI student after coming under the wheels of a roadways bus.

On the complaint by the ITI Principal and the ITI employees’ association, Deputy Commissioner Vinay Partap Singh had ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain the cause of the incident and fix responsibility.

The inquiry committee will give recommendations and suggest measures so that such incidents are avoided. The inquiry started on Sunday and it has to be concluded in seven days.

RP Sheokand, Additional Director, Skill Development and Industrial Training Department, and Jaswinder Sandhu from the ITI, Karnal, are also members of the inquiry committee.

Baldev Singh reposed trust in the committee. He, however, condemned media reports that quoted him as saying that he did not want the SDM to initiate the inquiry. The principal denied issuing such statement.

The Principal announced holidays for Monday and Tuesday in the ITI. He appealed to students to remain at home during the holidays.

Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria, meanwhile, shifted three policemen to the Police Lines on the basis of videos, which went viral on social media, reportedly showing them misbehaving with the Principal and staff members during the April 12 protest.

“The investigation by the ASP is going on. On the basis of videos, I have sent three head constables Rajesh Kumar, Satish Kumar and Sukhdev Singh to the Police Lines so that they cannot influence the inquiry,” the SP said.

The Sarv Karamchari Sangh condemned the lathicharge on staff members and students inside the ITI. They demanded judicial inquiry into the incident.

Demand for judicial inquiry

The Sarv Karamchari Sangh condemned the lathicharge on staff members and students inside the ITI. They demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident
The Principal announced holidays for Monday and Tuesday in the ITI. He appealed to students to remain at home during the holidays