BATHINDA/CHANDIGARH: Under flak over progress in cases related to Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan police firing, in which two protesters were killed on October 14, 2015, Punjab government has appointed senior advocate Rajwinder Singh Bains as special public prosecutor in four cases to ensure speedy action. Two FIRs were registered at Kotkapura and two at Bajakhana police station in Behbal Kalan.
The new special investigation team (SIT) headed by ADGP LK Yadav is yet to file a challan in the Kotkapura case while the Behbal Kalan case is listed for October 11.
According to orders issued by Anurag Verma, principal secretary home and justice, on Friday evening, Bains will also contest any cases pending in the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who also holds the portfolio of home department, said the newly-appointed special public prosecutor has been mandated to appear before the trial courts besides Punjab and Haryana high court on behalf of state government in cases related to four FIRs.
After the appointment of senior advocate APS Deol as advocate general of Punjab, the government had to face a lot of criticism as Deol had ensured blanket bail to former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in all cases till assembly elections next year. The government had announced the appointment of prosecutors in both cases.
Police had resorted to firing in the wee hours of October 14, 2015, at the traffic intersection of Kotkapura which had left many protesters injured. One of the protesters,Ajit Singh of Barnala district,had sustained a bullet injury in his thigh and a case under attempt to murder charges was registered against the cops on August 7, 2018, on his complaint. Later Saini and suspended IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal were nominated in this case.
Few hours after the Kotkapura action, the police had resorted to firing at the bus stand of Behbal Kalan village on Bathinda-Faridkot highway, which led to the death of protesters Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh. However, a case was registered against protesters under charges of attempt to murder for “attack on cops”. A week later, on the complaint of then ADGP and SIT head Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota another case was registered under charges of murder against unidentified policemen. Initially, former SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma was named in the case, but later IG Umranangal and former DGP Saini were named in the case.
The investigations made by the previous SIT had been quashed by high court and the new SIT, constituted on May 7, 2021, asked to complete the probe preferably in six months, is yet to file the challan in Kotkapura case while Behbal case is pending in high court as well as in trial court.
Sources confirmed that his appointment as special PP in sacrilege cases has been done on the suggestion of Deol.
The new special investigation team (SIT) headed by ADGP LK Yadav is yet to file a challan in the Kotkapura case while the Behbal Kalan case is listed for October 11.
According to orders issued by Anurag Verma, principal secretary home and justice, on Friday evening, Bains will also contest any cases pending in the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who also holds the portfolio of home department, said the newly-appointed special public prosecutor has been mandated to appear before the trial courts besides Punjab and Haryana high court on behalf of state government in cases related to four FIRs.
After the appointment of senior advocate APS Deol as advocate general of Punjab, the government had to face a lot of criticism as Deol had ensured blanket bail to former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in all cases till assembly elections next year. The government had announced the appointment of prosecutors in both cases.
Police had resorted to firing in the wee hours of October 14, 2015, at the traffic intersection of Kotkapura which had left many protesters injured. One of the protesters,Ajit Singh of Barnala district,had sustained a bullet injury in his thigh and a case under attempt to murder charges was registered against the cops on August 7, 2018, on his complaint. Later Saini and suspended IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal were nominated in this case.
Few hours after the Kotkapura action, the police had resorted to firing at the bus stand of Behbal Kalan village on Bathinda-Faridkot highway, which led to the death of protesters Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh. However, a case was registered against protesters under charges of attempt to murder for “attack on cops”. A week later, on the complaint of then ADGP and SIT head Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota another case was registered under charges of murder against unidentified policemen. Initially, former SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma was named in the case, but later IG Umranangal and former DGP Saini were named in the case.
The investigations made by the previous SIT had been quashed by high court and the new SIT, constituted on May 7, 2021, asked to complete the probe preferably in six months, is yet to file the challan in Kotkapura case while Behbal case is pending in high court as well as in trial court.
Sources confirmed that his appointment as special PP in sacrilege cases has been done on the suggestion of Deol.
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