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Sacrilege Probe Moving in Right Direction, Says Punjab Jails Minister
As per a new twist in sacrilege case, the investigation agencies are on the right track in IG Umranangal Bargari Sacrilege Case. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (Punjab jails minister) in a statement said that the probe in the sacrilege case, by SIT, is going on the right track. Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by ADGP Prabodh Kumar (now DGP) was made by Capt. Amarinder Singh.
The investigation team included some of the accomplished and well-ranked police officers including – IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, PPS officer Bhupinder Singh, IG Arun Pal Singh, and Kapurthala SSP Satinder Pal Singh.
Randhawa was in Amritsar to inaugurate Government Senior Secondary ‘Smart School’ at Mall Road. The statement of Randhawa came after two days following the statement made by former legislator Harvinder Singh Phoolka (AamAadmi Party).
In his statement, he said that he will return his Padma Shri award if that is the condition required to arrest the chief of the political party (the then ruling party) and former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in Behbal Kalan firing incident.
As per Randhawa, the main accused in Bargari sacrilege case with his accomplices have been arrested. Even the police officials who opened fire at the peaceful protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura were also booked and sent behind bars.
Harvinder Singh had no time, he anticipated Aam Aadmi Party to form government in Punjab, but the party was not able to form a government and he wanted to continue practicing as an advocate in Delhi.
Sacrilege Incidents: AAP’s Phoolka Resigns as MLA in Punjab
Earlier, Phoolka was challenged by five ministers of the state government in a joint statement, that included Randhawa as well, saying that if he was so concerned about the case and its implications, then he should no longer keep Padma Shri award with him (awarded to him by the BJP government) which forced Central Bureau of Investigation to file a closure report in the bargari sacrilege case.
Phoolka alleged that Congress government had taken no action on sacrilege incident, owing to which he resigned from the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The acceptance of his resignation was delayed by the Speaker owing to which he threatened to move to Supreme Court, only then his resignation was accepted. Phoolka also appealed five other MLAs to resign from Vidhan Sabha.
Randhawa also added that the Shiromani Akali Dal government was in Punjab for more than one year, but the then Chief Minister failed to nab the culprits of sacrilege case 2015. He has also given statements on the CBI closure report in sacrilege case and according to Randhawa, it felt like he is speaking at the directions of Dera Sacha Sauda followers.
Sukhbir Badal is a demanding probe in the sacrilege case from a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. Now, the question is why he didn’t demand the same when his party was in the majority.
Earlier the case has been investigated by 4 different probing agencies. The first team was made under Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota (ADGP IPS). This probing team also arrested two brothers – Jaswinder Singh and Rupinder Singh. These two brothers were in contact with foreign-based accomplices who received the funds to carry out the wrongdoing.
Punjab Govt Mishandled the 2015 IG Umranangal Sacrilege Case
Second Special Investigation Team (SIT) was made under the leadership of the then DIG Ludhiana, Ranbir Singh Khatra on November 30, 2015. This team had a major breakthrough where they were successful in arresting Mohinder Pal Singh Bittu and his accomplices – Shakti Singh and Sukhjinder Singh (also known as Sunny).
Bittu also confessed in front of the judicial magistrate Moga, under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that he was the key conspirator of Bargari sacrilege.
The third probing agency was the Central Bureau of Investigation. But, unfortunately, they gave a clean chit to the three accused – Mohinder Pal Bittu, Shakti Singh and Sukhjinder Singh in the Bargari sacrilege case. The investigating agency failed to find any concrete evidence that proves them as the accused.
The fourth investigation started under Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who later firm his resignation letter to CM. This SIT had some of the best police personnel in their team – IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, IG Arun Pal Singh, PPS officer Bhupinder Singh, and Kapurthala SSP Satinder Pal Singh.
Politics over 2015 sacrilege incidents in Punjab intensify
Even though we say that the probe is moving in the right direction, however, these four probing agencies are somehow unable to conclude to a common platform. This has only led to a delay in the case. With Bittu’s self-confession of the wrongdoing, it was the prime duty of the police to provide him extra security in which they failed and he was killed by two jail inmates –Maninder Singh and Gursewak Singh.
Somewhere there was a lapse by the then ruling party to adopt effective investigative measures to solve the case. Even Zora Commission also claimed that the SAD-BJP alliance carried out a shoddy probe. Even the state police worked under political pressure. This can be associated with Behbal Kalan Firing Case and Kotkapura Police Firing Case where PS Umranangal is supposedly made the main accused. At the time of his arrest, he was at the rank of Inspector General of Punjab.
Patiala Jail Superintendent Jaspal Singh failed to perform his duty rightfully. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa took this matter seriously and he sacked him for the negligence of duty & not following jail norms. Taking this matter seriously, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa sacked Patiala Jail Superintendent Jaspal Singh.
Delay in the verdict has only added agony to the Paramraj Singh Umranangal’s family. Its been five years, the judiciary system should give their verdict as soon as possible and put the real accused behind bars.
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