Behbal Kalan firing case: Ex-DGP Saini, former IG Umranangal move court for anticipatory bail

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, February 4

Five days before their appearance before a local court as an accused in a murder case, former DGP Punjab Sumedh Singh Saini and suspended IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal on Thursday moved their applications for anticipatory bail in the court of District and Sessions judge here.

While both of these accused police officers have been summoned by the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Faridkot for their presence before the court on February 9, the Session Court has fixed February 8 for the hearing on their anticipatory bail applications.

Both Saini and Umranangal are accused in a criminal case registered under Section 302, 307, 34, 201, 218, 166A, 120B, 34, 194, 195, 109 of IPC and 25, 27 of Arms Act at Bajakhana police station of Faridkot. This case was registered on October 21, 2015, a week after two protesters were allegedly killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015 in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala.

In this case, Saini and Umranangal were chargesheeted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab police on January 15 and they were summoned by the Court for February 9.

Saini has already approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the quashing of this chargesheet. Now fearing their arrest on February 9 when they have to appear before the court here, both police officers want to avail the benefit of anticipatory bail.

Alleging he has been implicated in the present case, earlier on January 29, Saini had moved an application in the court of Judicial Magistrate here for the inspection of the case which the court had rejected.