Family of Slain Gurdaspur Youth Accuses Police of Fabricating Encounter Story
The grieving family of Ranjit Singh, a 19-year-old youth shot dead in a police encounter in Gurdaspur's Adhian village, has vehemently asserted his innocence and accused law enforcement of concocting a false narrative surrounding his death. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, has sparked outrage and demands for a thorough investigation.
Mother's Heart-Wrenching Plea for Justice
Sukhwinder Kaur, the wailing mother of Ranjit Singh, has publicly challenged the police account, questioning why her son would have remained in the village if he were involved in any criminal activity. "If my son had committed a crime, he would have fled instead of staying here," she stated emotionally. She revealed that when police arrived at their home around 4 PM on Tuesday, they assured her they only wanted to ask Ranjit a few questions and would return him promptly.
Devastated by the loss of her only child, Sukhwinder demanded concrete answers: "We need justice. Provide us with evidence. Why was he taken to the police station after being questioned at home? How could they kill my son? What was his actual offense?"
Suspicious Circumstances and Family Allegations
Harwinder Singh, an uncle of the deceased, detailed disturbing events that followed. The family received a phone call around 1:30 AM on Wednesday, instructing them to come to the police station to collect Ranjit. Considering the late hour, they decided to wait until morning. However, before departing, they discovered social media reports announcing Ranjit's death in a police encounter.
Harwinder alleged that police were under immense pressure from media, government officials, and senior officers to solve the case of two policemen killed on Saturday night, leading them to make Ranjit a scapegoat. He emphasized that Ranjit was a first-year graduate student with aspirations for the future, and his father, Bikramjit Singh, works as a driver in Saudi Arabia.
Contradictions in Police Narrative and Evidence
The family claims to have fully cooperated with the investigation. Harwinder disclosed that he provided CCTV footage from his farmhouse cameras, which captured the Saturday night shooting of the two policemen. The footage reportedly shows several individuals on a motorcycle making a U-turn, with six gunshots audible. Despite this cooperation, he alleged that police collected all Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) from the village on Tuesday night, raising further suspicions among residents.
Sukhwinder provided an alibi for her son, stating that on Saturday, Ranjit returned home around 10:30 PM with relatives, informed her he was going to a party in Dilawar's village at Ali Nangal, and stayed there. She called him later, after which he returned home at 6:30 AM and remained there. This account contradicts police claims of his involvement.
Demands for Transparency and High-Level Probe
The family has called for an impartial, high-level investigation to uncover the truth. "The police story is completely unbelievable," Harwinder asserted. "We demand a top-level probe to reveal what actually happened." The case has highlighted tensions between the community and law enforcement, with the family seeking accountability and clarity in the face of tragic loss.
