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Custodial death: 4 cops dismissed
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Batala, February 22
Taking notice of a custodial death, the police authorities have dismissed from service four policemen accused in the case.

The SSP, Batala, in a press conference held here today evening said the accused police officials, including Inspector and SHO (City), Batala, Kirpal Singh, ASI and in charge of Simbal Chowki Paramjit Singh, Head Constable Satnam Singh and Constable Naresh Kumar had been dismissed from service.

They said the legal provision was invoked in very rare cases. The employees ousted under the said provision had no right to appeal at the administrative level. The employment termination benefits would also not be paid to the accused.

While the inspector has been dismissed by the DIG, the other three officers have been dismissed on the orders of the SSP. The accused are absconding and are yet to be arrested.

Information regarding the case has also been sent to the NHRC and the SC/ST Commission.

A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into the case. A case under Section 302 of the IPC has been registered against the accused officials.

Harjeet Singh, a Dalit youth of the Dera Baba Nanak area, and his brother were picked up by accused policemen on charge of theft about 11 days ago.

Harjeet was tortured in the custody that led to his death on Monday. In panic, the police officials allegedly cremated the dead without following proper procedure. Later, they took signature of the illiterate father of the deceased on some papers.

The matter came to light yesterday when the parents of the deceased met the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Mr Randhawa talked to the higher police authorities.

The IG (Jalandhar zone), Mr H.S. Dhillon, ordered the DIG (Border Range), Amritsar, Mr H.S. Randhawa, to hold inquiry into the case. After a preliminary inquiry, the DIG had suspended the accused and transferred them out of the district yesterday.