Inquiry officer proceeds on ex-India leave

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, September 21

The officer probing the sequence of events leading to the deaths of 24 persons in the explosions that occurred in the firecracker factory on September 4 has proceeded on ex-India leave.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had asked the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Gurdaspur, to look into the reasons that led to the tragedy and submit his report within 15 days. The officer was also asked to inquire as to how an illegal unit was operating in a populated residential area for the last several decades.

A senior officer claimed that the leave of Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu had been sanctioned in advance and that he had gone abroad to attend a family function.

Sources say before leaving, the ADC had issued summons to several officers who worked in Batala sub-division from 2017 till 2019.

The ADC was also tasked with finding what happened to the magisterial inquiry that was held in the aftermath of the January 21, 2017 blasts that occurred in the same factory killing one and injuring two. He was also required to report on what action had been taken by the Batala police on the FIR filed after these blasts took place.

“From January 2017 till September 4, 2019, more than 12 civil and police officers have remained posted in Batala. The ADC has served summons to all of them. The probe can proceed only after their replies are received. This is a tedious process and can take a lot of time. The ADC’s absence at this stage will not make any difference,” said an officer.

“These are long drawn proceedings. It is practically not possible for the ADC to complete the investigations in 15 days. The process will take several months because it entails taking statements of police and civil officers in writing,” said another officer.

‘It’s a long process’

The ADC has issued summons to 12 civil and police officers. Their written replies are required. This is a tedious process and can take a lot of time. Senior officer