Kotkapura firing incident: SIT summons former Akali MLA Mantar Singh Brar

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 7

The Special Investigation Team probing the Kotkapura police firing incident has issued summons to former SAD MLA Mantar Singh Brar besides questioning a number of senior police officials regarding the sequence of events leading to the firing in October 2015 on a mob protesting sacrilege incidents.

The SIT led by ADGP LK Yadav with IG Rakesh Aggarwal and DIG Surjit Singh as the members questioned DIGs Ranbir Singh Khatra and Amar Singh Chahal on Monday.

It also put posers to former SSP Sukhmandar Singh Mann and Charanjit Singh besides Inspector Pritpal Singh.

Former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini was likely to be questioned today. Sources said the panel will call him again after listening to the other police officials, bureaucrats and politicians, who were either on the protest site or were involved in the decision-making process to use force against protesters or not.

Suspended IG PS Umranangal did not appear before the probe panel today. He sought an excuse for today saying he was indisposed. He is likely to appear tomorrow.

The SIT showed the officials video clips of the police firing and alleged clash with the protesters.

People were protesting against the series of sacrilege incidents in the region. Sources said the probe panel wanted to ascertain who ordered the firing at the mob. It is also trying to know if the police opened fire at a peaceful gathering of protesters or if the mob was unruly.