Two days after two brothers were killed in a fake encounter, Punjab Government on Monday suspended Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harsh Kumar Bansal for his “unprofessional” conduct in handling the matter.

Inspector Manjinder Singh, posted as station house officer (SHO) at Machhiwara Police station, has also been dismissed from his services for “shielding” the erring police officers.

Other than them, three other cops, arrested in the murder case — constable Yadwinder Singh, home guards Ajit Singh and Baldev Singh — have also been dismissed by the orders of the State Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini.

“After discussion with the Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Home Minister Sukhbir Badal with the DGP, Khanna SSP has been placed under suspension with immediate effect so that all aspects relating to this incident can be examined impartially,” said the State’s additional DGP (Administration)

MK Tiwari.

At the same time, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal constituted a committee,

comprised ADGP (Crime) VK Bhawra and State Narcotic Bureau director Ishwar Singh, to enquire into the police firing incident, seeking report within 15 days.

Going into background of the matter, a police party of Machhiwara police station in Khanna district raided a dwelling unit at Jamalpur in ludhiana on September 27, Saturday.

The party was accompanied by one Gurjit Singh, Takhana village resident. Two persons — Harinder Singh alias lalli and Jatinder Singh alias Goldy — both sons of Satpal Singh of Bohapur resident were killed.

Subsequently, a murder case under Sections 302, 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at Jamalpur police station in ludhiana city.

Members of the police party — constable Yadwinder Singh, home guard Ajit Singh and Baldev Singh — along with Gurjit Singh were arrested in the case.

“Jalandhar Zonal IG reported that Khanna SSP committed misconduct, dereliction of duty and did not exercise proper supervisory control in various aspects relating to this matter...In particular, SSP attempted to shield delinquent police officials who were attempting to portray incident as that of a police encounter while effecting arrest,” informed ADGP Tiwari.

He added that the IGP has also reported that SSP failed to make proper efforts to go into the depth of the matter and that his conduct had been unprofessional.

“Jalandhar Zonal IG’s report mentioned serious misconduct on the part of SSP... He has directed the DIG Range to conduct a detailed enquiry into the role and conduct of SSP Khanna and other officials of Khanna Police in this

incident and recommended that the SSP be placed under suspension,” said Tewari, adding that the same had been done for impartial inquiry.

ADGP said that constable Yadwinder Singh had been dismissed from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution, while home guards Ajit Singh and Baldev Singh have been discharged from service.

“Presently, these three ex-police officials and Gurjit Singh are on police remand,” he added.

Tewari informed that a special investigating team (SIT), headed by Jagraon SSP Ravcharan Singh Brar, with ADCP-IV ludhiana Satbir Singh Atwal and Sahnewal ACP lakhbir Singh as its members, under the overall supervision of ludhiana Police Commissioner has been formed to investigate the murder case.

“IGP Zone Jalandhar has also reported that Inspector Manjit Singh, Machhiwara SHP, attempted to shield the police officials of Khanna

district,” he said adding that SHO “gave a wrong version of the incident to his superior officers and made false entries in the Daily Diary Register (DDR) of the Police Station.

He has been dismissed from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution, he added.