SP’s son among accused, on the run

The Punjab government on Friday finally heard the plea of the father of a Burundi student who has been in coma after being assaulted more than two months ago and promised stern action against all those involved in the case. The police, meanwhile, have revealed the name of another accused who is the son of a superintendent of police.

After Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal's intervention on Friday, the Jalandhar police said Romi Uppal, son of SP Dharam Singh Uppal, was also named as accused in the case. He was absconding with another accused, Amandeep Singh.

The police are yet to identify at least five other accused. They said the other accused were known to the absconding duo and can be identified only after Amandeep and Uppal are arrested.

Yannick's father, however, questioned the police theory, saying two others arrested in the case were friends of the absconding accused and have narrated the entire episode to the police.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced an aid of Rs 5 lakh to Nestor Ntibateganya, the father of 23-year-old Yannick Nihangaza who was beaten up on April 21 in Jalandhar and is lying in coma at a private hospital in Patiala. He appealed to the hospital to waive Yannick's medical bill.

The development came after Burundi Ambassador Rubuka Aloys met Secretary West, Sanjay Singh, in New Delhi seeking legal help.

Earlier in the day, Badal said the student "will get justice at all cost... whosoever is behind the crime will be dealt with sternly. The government will not hesitate in taking action even if the persons involved in the crime are influential ones".

In another development, Sukhbir Badal directed Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to extend all possible medical and financial help to the student. He also directed Police Commissioner Gaurav Yadav to expedite the manhunt for the accused.

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