Sacrilege: SIT finds interconnecting facts between Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan/Bajakhana incidents

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, May 20

A special investigation team, constituted to look into sacrilege cases, has found interconnecting facts between the Kotkapura incident and the subsequent occurrence at Behbal Kalan/Bajakhana. In a report submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Inspector-General of Police-cum-SIT chairman Naunihal Singh submitted that his team was facing problem due to the interconnectivity.

Former IGP and AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh also moved an application seeking permission to intervene in the matter. After hearing lengthy arguments in the matter, Justice Raj Mohan Singh fixed the matter for further hearing on May 24.

In his 16-page report placed before the Justice Raj Mohan Singh’s Bench, Naunihal Singh submitted:  “There are certain issues like the presence of (police officer) Param Raj Singh Umaranangal, presence of Gurdeep Singh (the then SHO) and other police officials, etc., at the place of occurrences, Kotkapura/Behbal Kalan, which are to be established by the present SIT as both occurrences are interconnected”.

Naunihal Singh added certain other material evidence was also interconnected regarding both the occurrences at Kotkapura and Bajakhana. These facts were required to be cross checked with the investigation of the Kotkapura cases.

“The present SIT is facing problems in further investigation of the FIR 130 in absence of access to the investigation in the Kotkapura cases which are being investigated by the SIT headed by the ADGP L K Yadav,” Naunihal added.

The Bench was also told that further investigation in this case was going on. In case any material evidence came on record with regard to individual/official, it would be considered by the SIT. The needful would also be done in accordance with law as per available material/evidence.

The petitions in the matter, filed by Umaranangal, former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and other petitioners, were argued by — among others senior advocate RS Cheema and Sant Pal Singh Sidhu.