Custodial death: SIT gets remand of two policemen

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, June 4

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday got one-day remand of two policemen — Sukhmander Singh and Darshan Singh — for questioning.

They are accused of disposing of the body of 22-year-old Jaspal Singh, who had allegedly died in the custody of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) wing of Faridkot police on May 19.

For the past 16 days, members of the deceased’s family and social organisations have been sitting on a dharna in front of the SSP officer here. They have been demanding the recovery of the body.

Working under pressure, many teams of the Faridkot police have failed to recover the body so far.

Hoping that the arrested policemen will give some clue about the body, the SIT got their remand.

IGP MS Chhina, who is the head of the SIT, will also question both constables, who were arrested last week. Narinder Singh, one of the prime accused and incharge of the CIAwing, had allegedly committed suicide on May 19.

To understand the conspiracy and fill many investigation gaps in these two deaths — Jaspal Singh and Narinder Singh — in the CIA wing, the SIT arrested Jaswant Singh Bitta, a friend of deceased Jaspal, on Tuesday.

It is alleged that Jaswant had called Jaspal at a gurdwara in Ratti Rori village from where he was picked up by the CIA staff on May 18 night.

While the police are also looking for Ranbir Singh on whose complaint Jaspal was rounded up by the CIA staff, the SIT believes that Jaswant will also spill the beans.

Parwinder Kaur, alias Pammi, wife of Ranbir Singh, has already been arrested. Deceased Jaspal has friendship with the daughter of Parwinder.

“The police have arrested four persons, including two constables, in this case so far. Ranbir is believed to be the main kingpin of this series of crime. A total of 16 teams of the Faridkot police have been conducting raids on various suspected hideouts of Ranbir Singh in different parts of the country,” said Chhina.