Senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has strongly condemned the death of 22-year-old Dalit youth Lovepreet Singh, alias Labha, of Bangiwal village in Mehatpur, and demanded the immediate registration of a murder case against all police personnel involved in the firing incident.
Demand for Judicial Probe
Khaira also urged the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and order an independent judicial probe into the circumstances surrounding the youth's death. Lovepreet Singh, who was wanted in connection with a case registered in January 2026, succumbed to injuries sustained after he was allegedly shot by police personnel during a raid at his residence on Friday evening.
Contradicting Official Version
While the police have maintained that officers opened fire in self-defence following hostility from villagers, the victim's family and local residents have disputed the official version. They alleged that Lovepreet was assaulted by the police before being shot and further claimed that he was denied timely medical treatment. Villagers have also questioned why no FIR had been registered against any police personnel, despite criminal cases being filed against members of Lovepreet's family.
Khaira's Statement
In a statement, Khaira said the incident raised serious concerns about the conduct of the Punjab Police and reflected what he described as a culture of impunity under the AAP government. "The killing of a young Dalit man at the hands of the police cannot be brushed aside through a departmental inquiry alone. When a citizen dies in police firing, the law demands the highest standards of transparency and accountability. The police cannot be allowed to investigate themselves and then grant themselves a clean chit," he said.
Evidence and Protests
The Congress MLA said the emergence of videos from the scene and the widespread protests by villagers further strengthened the case for an independent investigation under judicial supervision. He noted that several organisations, along with local residents, had already demanded action against the police personnel involved in the shooting.
Specific Demands
Khaira called for the immediate registration of an FIR for culpable homicide or murder against the officials responsible for the firing, suspension of all personnel involved pending investigation, and the preservation of all video footage, records and other evidence related to the incident. He also demanded adequate compensation and rehabilitation support for the bereaved family and reiterated his appeal for the Punjab and Haryana High Court to intervene and ensure a fair, impartial and independent investigation.
