No proof of youth being forced to drink urine: SIT

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, October 23

A day after a second special investigation team (SIT) was constituted by the Punjab State Safai Karamchari Commission to probe the assault on Dalit youth Gurnam Singh, alias Gora, in Fazilka, the first SIT, constituted by the SSP, submitted its preliminary report today.

Sources said the police SIT’s investigation over eight days suggested the youth had tried to enter the house of a villager, Darshan Singh, at Chak Janisar village on the night of October 8 and 9.

Darshan, neighbour Tek Singh and his wife Harpreet Kaur informed the village gurdwara granthi that a thief had entered the village. The granthi made an announcement through the public address system, following which villagers assembled and assaulted Gora, the probe has suggested.

SSP Harjeet Singh said the victim was assaulted “inhumanely” with sticks. A video clip of the incident had gone viral. He said investigations suggested Gora did not commit theft. “The victim was beaten up on suspicion of being a thief,” he clarified.

He said no proof of administering urine to the victim had come to light so far, as claimed by him in the FIR.

The SSP said the accused belonged to different communities, including Dalits and upper caste, thus ruling out “pure Dalit atrocities”. Charges under the SC/ST Act would, however, stay in the FIR against the accused.

On the basis of Gora’s statement, three accused — Simranjit Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Jasveer Singh — were initially booked. All have already been arrested. Gora had alleged he was assaulted and forced to drink urine by the accused in an inebriated condition.