M A I N   N E W S

CBI probe sought into Harpreet case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 26 — In petitions before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, social organisations today sought directions to the state of Punjab and other respondents for registering a first information report in Harpreet Kaur's alleged murder case, besides ordering a CBI probe into the allegations. 

Stressing upon the need of investigation by the premier investigating agency, Lawyers for Human Rights, in their petition before the High Court here, stated that "the Chief Minister himself had attended the cremation ceremony and had thus effectively stopped any proper investigation into the crime". 

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Bibi Jagir Kaur's daughter Harpreet Kaur, it may be recalled, had died under mysterious circumstances a few days ago. Today, describing Punjab Police as "mindless tool in the hands of the politicians", the petitioner stated that there was no hope for an independent probe. 

Claiming Harpreet Kaur, in all probability, had been killed, the petitioner said the "boy" and his family too were facing threat and required protection. 

Referring to the newspaper reports, the petitioner added that there were "sufficient details of suspected murder by Bibi Jagir Kaur and her people". Seeking the registration of a murder and criminal conspiracy case under Sections 302, 34 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, the petitioners added that Bibi Jagir Kaur and the alleged conspirators should also be booked for destroying evidence "by burning the body".

Meanwhile, in his petition before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, the Chairman of World Human Rights Protection Council, Mr Ranjan Lakhanpal stated that an independent probe by the CBI was must to "clear the mist". He added that Harpreet Kaur's killing had "left the feeling in the minds of the masses that highly placed people can get away with anything, even killing".

Faith, he added, had to be restored by unearthing the truth through an “independent enquiry into the matter”.