Gurdaspur DC shifted; SSP, DSP suspended
The state government has transferred deputy
commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth and placed senior superintendent of police
Varinder Pal Singh and deputy superintendent of police (rural) Manpreet Singh
under suspension in connection with the death of Jaspal Singh, who was killed
in police firing
during a bandh call which was given by Shiv Sena in
Gurdaspur on Thursday.
Another youth was seriously injured in the police firing.
Meanwhile, deputy superintendent of police (rural) Manpreet Singh and
assistant sub-inspector Harjinder Singh have been named in the FIR registered
in connection with the case.
The government took the decision after Akal Takht jathedar Gurbachan
Singh, former Akal Takht jathedar Jasbir Singh Rodhe, Damdami Taksal chief Bhai
Harnam Singh Dhumma and Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwala arrived Chorh Sidhwan
village, 7 km from here, on Saturday to attend the cremation of Jaspal Singh.
A large number of people from nearby villages and members from various
Sikh organisations had gathered on the occasion. Jaspal's family had put up
several demands, apparently under the directions of the radicals, before the
Akal Takht jathedar to tell the government that they would not perform the last
rites of the deceased before their demands are accepted.
The family cremated Jaspal Singh (18) after receiving a copy of the
government orders sent by fax. Deputy commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth went
to Chorh Sidhwan village to convey the decision of the government to Gurbachan
Singh and other Sikh leaders.
Though agitated youth resorted to stone-pelting, the DC escaped unhurt.
The Sikh leaders held separate closed-door meetings with the deputy
commissioner in the village, even as the agitated youth raised pro-Khalistan
slogans.
The Akal Takht jathedar spoke to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal over
phone and apprised him of the demands of the aggrieved family. The government
took some time to decide on the matter and finally accepted the main demands of
the family.
