Family of Deceased Teenager Moves Court for Fresh Postmortem in Gurdaspur Encounter Case
The family of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh, who was fatally shot in an alleged police encounter on Wednesday in connection with the murder of two policemen, has approached the Gurdaspur district court. They are seeking the appointment of a special medical board to conduct a new, videographed postmortem examination. This legal move comes amid escalating tensions and allegations of misconduct surrounding the incident.
Petition Details and Family's Stance
Harwinder Singh, the uncle of the deceased, stated, "We have filed a petition requesting the Gurdaspur district court to appoint a seven-member board of doctors and conduct a videographed postmortem. Only then will we accept the body and proceed with his cremation." The family's demand underscores their deep distrust in the initial police narrative and their quest for transparency in the investigation.
Police Account of the Encounter
According to police reports, Ranjit Singh fled from custody in the early hours of Wednesday while officers were taking him to recover a weapon. Authorities claim that when tracked down, he fired at police, leading to his death in retaliatory gunfire. On Thursday, police reiterated their stance, alleging that the murders of ASI Gurnam Singh and home guard jawan Ashok Kumar were part of an ISI plot. They asserted that fugitive accused Inderjit Singh had recruited Ranjit and Dilawar Singh to carry out the killings, with Dilawar currently in police custody.
Family Challenges Police Allegations
Harwinder Singh publicly challenged the police to produce evidence linking Ranjit to Pakistan's ISI, dismissing the claims as baseless and accusing authorities of shielding the real perpetrators. Similarly, Dilawar Singh's family alleges he was framed. His father, Dilbagh Singh, a former serviceman, emphasized, "Both youths belonged to respectable, well-to-do families, and Dilawar works with an MNC in Delhi. They are educated and had no reason to commit such a heinous act." He further contended that his son's admission of involvement was recorded under duress, labeling the investigation as one-sided and lacking transparency.
Police Response and Investigation Details
When questioned about the families' allegations, Gurdaspur SSP Aditya stated that police possess sufficient evidence against the trio. He acknowledged the families' emotional distress but assured that multiple teams are actively working to trace and arrest Inderjit Singh. DIG-Border Range Sandeep Goel addressed concerns about how Ranjit arranged a motorcycle and weapon during his brief escape, stating, "The courts will look into the encounter. We will conduct the investigation in a professional manner. We have delivered poetic justice to an accused who, at the behest of nefarious designs of Pakistan, was spreading terror and was tasked with killing policemen."
DIG Goel dismissed doubts over the encounter, asserting, "We act as per law. We arrested him. He escaped and fired at our men." He also defended the seizure of CCTV cameras from Ranjit's village, explaining, "We arrested him from the village and showed it on our records. We seized the CCTV cameras as they are evidence pertaining to the movement of the accused. What is illegal in that?"
Investigation Breakthrough and Call Dump Analysis
Police detailed that Dilawar Singh transported Inderjit and Ranjit to the police check post on his motorcycle, waiting outside as the other two shot the officers. DIG Goel noted, "Dilawar knew what Inderjit and Ranjit were up to. He has said that they wanted to do something sensational, and their specific targets were the policemen." Initially, investigators followed leads from CCTV footage of two motorcycles and a Scorpio vehicle, but these proved fruitless.
A breakthrough came after analyzing call dumps, which directed police attention to nearby villages. By scrutinizing CCTV footage from private cameras, officers obtained vital leads that cracked the case. This method highlights the technological aspects of modern policing but remains contentious amid allegations of evidence tampering.
The case continues to unfold, with legal proceedings and public scrutiny intensifying as both sides present conflicting narratives. The families' pursuit of justice through the courts adds a layer of complexity to an already volatile situation in Punjab.
