Punjab Dalit killing: Amarinder Singh demands probe by SC judge

Chandigarh: Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Thursday demanded that a sitting Supreme Court judge should head a probe into the brutal murder of a Dalit man by suspected henchmen of a liquor baron in Abohar by chopping his limbs off.

He also sought a probe by a judge of the apex court into alleged "fake encounters and extra-judicial killings" during the militancy period in Punjab, and recent incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in the state.

"What happened in Abohar is totally inhuman and against the law. In any civilised country, the culprits would have been behind the bars, but here they are being protected by the Akalis," Singh alleged.

27-year-old Bhim Sain was murdered by suspected henchmen of liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda while Sain's associate was grievously injured in the attack on Friday last.

"A probe should take place into this," Singh said. The Punjab Congress chief termed as "shameful" Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's remarks in Parliament terming the Abohar killing as a "gang war".

"It is shameful that in place of providing justice to the victim's family, such excuses (of gang war) are being made. "It is a story being made, these boys were tortured, they are young boys, the way such barbaric action takes place, the perpetrator should be hanged," he said at a news conference.

Singh alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was directly responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari recently and the killing of two Sikh youths in police firing during protests that followed.

The government handed over the probe to the CBI, but did not include police action in the terms of reference, he said.

"I want that an inquiry should take place under a Supreme Court judge. When a thorough probe is held, the finger will be pointed at the Badals only," Singh said.

"Who gave the orders to open fire on peaceful protesters. These orders were given by (former DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini on the directions of Badal senior (Parkash Singh)," he alleged. "It was a peaceful gathering. Without any provocation, they ordered firing," Singh said.

The Chief Minister wanted to divert the public attention without realising that it will mark the beginning of his end, he said.

"Now, they (SAD-BJP) are going about holding Sadbhavna rallies in the state. Does government hold Sadbhavna rallies? Government's duty is to ensure peace and not to hold rallies to bring peace," the former Chief Minister said.

Singh also trained guns on Saini, who was recently shunted out by the Badal government and replaced by Suresh Arora as the SAD-BJP regime faced flak over the law and order situation in the wake of protests over sacrilege incidents.

While referring to the recent claims made by a former cop, Gurmeet Singh Pinky, he blamed Saini and some of his colleagues in Punjab Police for "extra-judicial killings and fake encounters" during militancy period in Punjab, and demanded Saini's dismissal.

"Saini should be dismissed from police and tried for murder with all officers who were involved," Singh said. He said Pinky had recently alleged that a number of people were killed without trial during militancy in Punjab.

"A high-level inquiry should be ordered into the revelations made by Pinky. Moreover, where did Rs 50 lakhs, alleged to be paid by Pinky for his reinstatement, go? Let it be probed where the money went? he said.

Singh alleged that the law and order machinery in Punjab had completely broken down under the present SAD-BJP regime. Meanwhile, he strongly refuted claims that Congress was espousing any 'panthic' agenda.

He reiterated his pledge of punishing drug peddlers within four weeks, putting all the corrupt people behind bars, cancelling all "false" FIRs and starting the process of providing jobs to the unemployed within a stipulated time-frame.