Thapar varsity student’s death: Punjab does U-turn, disbands SIT

Adding another twist to the case relating to the "mysterious" death of a student of Thapar University, the Punjab government has constituted another special investigation team (SIT). The previous SIT, formed by the government, has been disbanded. The SIT was headed by Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police.

The previous SIT, which had started its investigation and had reconstructed the scene of crime, was disbanded last month. This is the second time the Punjab government has disbanded a SIT.

This time, however, the reason is different. Earlier, the Punjab government had refused to rely on the decision taken by its former Director General of Police (DGP), wherein he had overruled the investigation report of a DIG in the mysterious death of a youth. The then DGP had, showing no conviction in the investigation done by DIG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, constituted a SIT. While Pratap had termed it a case of murder, the SIT had dismissed the finding stating that it was a simple accident. Gagandeep, a 21-year-old student of Thapar University, had died under mysterious circumstances in Patiala in 2010.

His father, Gurbax Singh Bains, had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging murder after the Patiala Police had registered a case of rash and negligent driving.

Slamming the Punjab Police on April 30 this year, the High Court had raised eyebrows on the functioning of the force and directed the police to probe murder charges, as recommended by Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.

The DIG had submitted a scathing inquiry report stating that "custodial interrogation" of those allegedly involved in the "accident" was required, and recommended registration of murder charges. Refusing to accept his recommendation report, the then DGP had constituted a SIT.

Taking note of this, O P Bhatia, Deputy Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice, Punjab, had said the constitution of SIT would "lead to tampering with evidence". Therefore, he ordered that the SIT be disbanded immediately, upholding the DIG's "recommendation" for registration of a murder case.

... contd.

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