Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa urges HC to order independent probe into Ranjit Singh killing

Chandigarh: The Leader of Opposition in Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday urged the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana high court to take suo motu cognisance of the killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in an alleged police encounter, and to order an independent, time-bound and high-level probe into the matter.Bajwa visited the bereaved family of Ranjit Singh at Adian village to personally hear their account of the incident. After meeting the grieving family members, he said their version of events raised serious and disturbing questions that cannot be ignored in a democratic society governed by the rule of law. "The 50-kilometre belt around the international border fence falls under the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF), which is a joint responsibility of the Centre and Punjab govt. Therefore, accountability cannot be deflected or diluted," Bajwa said. He strongly backed the family's demand that the post-mortem examination be conducted either at PGI Chandigarh or AIIMS Delhi, as they lost faith in Punjab Police. "When a family expresses such deep mistrust in the state machinery, it reflects the gravity of the situation. I fully support their demand for an independent and credible post-mortem," he added. Bajwa further demanded that the investigation be handed over either to a sitting judge of the high court or to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure transparency and impartiality. "Only a probe conducted under judicial supervision or by an independent central agency can restore public confidence and ensure that the truth prevails before the entire Punjab," he said. He said the people of Punjab are emotionally invested in this case and are closely watching developments. "The citizens of Punjab want to know the truth — whether Ranjit Singh and others were indeed involved in the killing of 2 police personnel, and if so, to what extent. Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done." Recalling Punjab's painful history, Bajwa warned against repeating past mistakes. "Punjab witnessed prolonged periods of turmoil. For nearly 15 years, the state remained deeply disturbed. We saw the consequences of excesses and unchecked actions. We cannot afford to revisit that dark chapter." Launching a scathing attack on the AAP-led Punjab govt, Bajwa said since it assumed power, the law and order situation in the state deteriorated alarmingly. "The law and order machinery appears to have been left rudderless and at the mercy of God. Such incidents further erode public trust in institutions meant to protect citizens," he added.