In a major reprieve to the activists of Bharatiya Kisan Union, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday accepted the findings of District and Sessions Judge (retd) CR Goel, who was appointed as one-Member Judicial Commission to enquire into the Jeobala incident in Tarn Taran district.
Justice Goel, in his inquiry report, has held that Tarn Taran Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Kulbir Singh died of heart attack as confirmed by the medical reports and accused persons who were stated to be present at the place of incident and allegedly manhandled this police officer don’t seem to be responsible for his death.
Justice Goel submitted the report to the state Home department on December 6, which further examined the contents of the report thoroughly. Thereafter, the Home Department made recommendations to the Chief Minister asking the district attorney to initiate proceedings accordingly in the competent court for withdrawal of the cases registered against the accused under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), stated spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
He added that the culprits, however, involved in this case would face trial for commission of offences punishable under various sections 341, 353, 186, 332, 506, 148, 149 of the IPC.
The law of the land would take its own course and none of the innocents involved in this incident would be punished or harassed, added the spokesperson. Three months after Tarn Taran ASI passed away during a farmers’ protest in Jeobala village, Punjab government ordered a time-bound probe by retired District and Session Judge into his death on May 31, and asked to submit the report “within three months”.
The decision to order a probe was taken after a meeting between various farmers’ organizations and labourers with Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, following which, a three-member committee, consisting of Punjab Advocate General Ashok Aggarwal, Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, and Principal Secretary Home DS Bains, was constituted to look into their demands. On the recommendations of three-member committed, the decision to initiate judicial inquiry into the incident was taken, and Chief Minister approved the name of CR Goel for the same.
Punjab Police ASI Kulbir Singh, who was part of a police team conducting raid at a hideout of farmers’ union members in Jeowala village, was killed in the wee hours of March 7, police said adding that when the team including the ASI reached the spot, they were held hostage by agitating farmers. The farmers, however, had alleged that the ASI was drunk and panicked after seeing a huge gathering. They also claimed that the ASI ran away from the spot and later suffered a heart attack.