Chattopadhyay provided infra, HC told

Chattopadhyay provided infra, HC told

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 3

Just about five months after Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyay claimed non-availability of basic facilities for looking into a two-decade old fake encounter case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was today told that he has been provided with requisite infrastructure.

As the case came up for hearing before Justice Rajiv Narain Raina’s Bench, the state counsel submitted that the needful had been done. The DGP had been provided with manpower and requisite facilities.

The submission came in connection with on a petition filed in 2013 by victim Sukhpal Singh’s wife Dalbir Kaur and his father Jagir Singh of Kala Afghana village. They had alleged that Sukhpal Singh was killed in an encounter, but “militant” Gurnam Singh Bandala alias Neela Tara was shown to have been killed. The Bench was told that Bandala, reportedly killed in the police encounter in 1994, was later caught alive.

Alleging attempts by the state to shield the guilty, petitioner’s counsel R Kartikeya had added inquiry was not initiated to determine the truth about the fake encounter, which was stage-managed by then DSP Paramraj Singh Umaranangal.

Chattopadhyay, on the previous date of hearing, had said he had been posted outside the mainstream and outside the regular state police service. As such, he would require necessary powers, appropriate office with supporting officers, and staff, along with necessary transport and office facilities, to conduct the investigation as head of the SIT. Posted at Patiala, Chattopadhyay had submitted he was only having a small residential camp office in Chandigarh without regular officer, staff or transport facilities.