JAMALPUR POLICE ENCOUNTER: Punjab Government suspends SSP Khanna

*DISMISSES SHO MACHHIWARA, CONSTABLE AND TWO HOME GUARDS

*ADGP/CRIME VK BHAWRA AND IG ISHWAR SINGH TO ENQUIRE THE INCIDENT AND SUBMIT REPORT IN 15 DAYS

Chandigarh, September 29, 2014: On September 27, a police party of Police Station Machhiwara, District Khanna raided a dwelling unit at Jamalpur, Ludhiana. The party was accompanied by one Gurjit Singh R/o Vill. Takhana PS Machhiwara. Two persons namely Harinder Singh @ Lalli and Jatinder Singh @ Goldy, both sons of Satpal Singh R/o Bohapur, PS Samrala were killed. A murder case (FIR No. 125 dated 27.09.2014 u/s 302/34 IPC, PS Jamalpur, Ludhiana City) was registered. Members of the police party Constable Yadwinder Singh, PHG Ajit Singh and PHG Baldev Singh alongwith Gurjit Singh were arrested in this case.

IGP Zone Jalandhar has reported that SSP Khanna Harsh Kumar Bansal, IPS committed misconduct, dereliction of duty and did not exercise proper supervisory control in various aspects relating to this matter. In particular, the SSP attempted to shield the delinquent police officials who were attempting to portray the incident as that of a police encounter while effecting arrest. The IGP has also reported that the SSP failed to make proper efforts to go into the depth of the matter and that his conduct has been unprofessional. The report of IGP Zone Jalandhar mentions serious misconduct on the part of SSP. IGP Zone Jalandhar has directed the DIG Range to conduct a detailed enquiry into the role and conduct of SSP Khanna and other officials of Khanna Police in this incident and recommended that the SSP be placed under suspension.

After discussion of the Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Home Minister, Punjab with DGP Punjab, SSP Khanna has been placed under suspension with immediate effect so that all aspects relating to this incident can be examined impartially.

The members of the police party who have been arrested in the murder case are Constable Yadwinder Singh, PHG Ajit Singh and PHG Baldev Singh. Constable Yadwinder Singh has been dismissed from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India and PHGs Ajit Singh and Baldev Singh have been discharged from service. Presently these 3 ex-police officials and Gurjit Singh are on police remand.

An SIT headed by Ravcharan Singh Brar, SSP Jagraon and Satbir Singh Atwal, ADCP-4 Ludhiana and Lakhbir Singh, ACP Sahnewal as its members, under the overall supervision of Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana has been formed to investigate the murder case (FIR No. 125 dated 27.09.2014 u/s 302/34 IPC, PS Jamalpur, Ludhiana City).

IGP Zone Jalandhar has also reported that Inspector Manjit Singh, SHO PS Machhiwara attempted to shield the police officials of Police District Khanna. He gave a wrong version of the incident to his superior officers and made false entries in the Daily Diary Register of the Police Station. He has been dismissed from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution.

Government has deputed ADGP V. K. Bhawra, IPS and IGP Sh. Ishwar Singh, IPS to examine the entire matter and submit a report in 15 days.

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