The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday asked Jharkhand Home Secretary Rajiv Arun Ekka to explain what other measures have been taken by the state government for witness protection. The court also directed him to ensure proper CCTV surveillance at court premises in districts.

The Home Secretary physically appeared before the court after Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan took suo moto cognizance of the Manpreet Pal Singh murder case on June 9.

The bench of Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad directed the government to file a reply by June 27. The court expressed concern over the brutal killing of a college student who was a prosecution witness in a firing case. The court said that it is the duty of the state to protect the witness who is helping the law.

A native of Jamshedpur, Manpreet Pal Singh (22), at C Block, Agrico, under Sidhgora police station was shot dead on Wednesday. He sustained critical injuries in his head, hand, and leg when three assailants fired eight bullets at him. He was rushed to Tata Main Hospital where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.

He was returning home after attending the hearing of a criminal case in which he was a witness. Police said that three criminals attacked him. Three months back, criminals had fired bullets at the residence of one Gaurav and an FIR was lodged at Sidhgora police station. Accused had earlier threatened him for becoming a witness.

He was a student of B. Com at Gurunanak Dev Singh University in Punjab. He had come to his home last Monday and appeared before the court. Sources said that three criminals barged into his residence and assaulted his mother and shot him dead before his mother.