Police firing: New SIT visits crime scene, begins probe

Faridkot, May 13

Amid a political blame game in the Congress, the new special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab Police today reached Kotkapura to start its investigation in the police firing incident that happened in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents in October 2015.

Consequent to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the new SIT, comprising ADGP LK Yadav, Commissioner of Ludhiana Police Rakesh Agarwal and DIG, Faridkot Range, Surjit Singh today reached the chowk where many protesters were injured in the alleged police firing on October 14, 2015, here.

The new SIT started its investigation after the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed an earlier inquiry last month, conducted by IGP-rank police officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.

The new SIT members spoke to some shopkeepers near the chowk and inspected the spot where people were holding a protest against the sacrilege incidents.

While the SIT members refused to speak to mediapersons, some of the witnesses in the two FIRs registered at the Kotkapura police station in regard to the firing incident expressed their reservations about deposing before the new SIT. Sukhraj Singh, son of Krishan Bhagwan Singh, one of the protesters who was killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan, alleged the new SIT would not serve any purpose or justice to the victims. After the High Court orders, the courts in Faridkot have already stopped legal proceedings against the accused in the case. — TNS