Punjab govt disallows DSGMC probe panel to hold enquiry

[AKaur2]

Ludhiana, Punjab: The Punjab government today banned a former Delhi High Court Judge, Justice TS Doabia, from inquiring into the December 5 violence against Sikhs on the plea that his presence threatened law and order in the city. The government, however, could not prevent Sikh activists from giving their written statements as 76 of them, including 12 injured in the firing, informed the panel in writing of the happenings on the day.

Justice Doabia was asked by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Paramjit Singh Sarna to look into the incidents that forced the police to open fire leading to killing of a Sikh activist.

The retired Judge reached the Gujjarkhan campus in the city today and heard only one activist, when he was told by the Senior Superintendent of Police that he could not conduct an inquiry in Ludhiana.

Justice Doabia immediately stopped listening to activists as he said he was a strict law- abiding citizen as he had dealt with the law throughout his life. He said he would follow the orders of the SSP.

However, secretary, DSGMC, Kartar Singh Kocchhar, took the statements of Sikh activists. Despite barricading the area heavily, the police could not stop the radical Sikhs from reaching the venue. The SSP, SS Gill, was himself seen controlling the situation.

They said the rest of the inquiry would be conducted in Delhi and the DSGMC would send a special bus to Ludhiana to fetch activists.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was in the city today to inaugurate the Jagannath Rath Yatra, said they had to ban the inquiry as it was actually threatening the law and order situation. Criticising Sarna, the Chief Minister said he wanted Punjab to burn. He was indulging in such activities to create trouble in the state. ‘‘What is his locus standi to order an inquiry into the episode?’’ asked Badal.

<em><strong>Source</strong>: PTI</em>