CHANDIGARH: The Cooperation and Jails Minister, Punjab, S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today while responding to the allegations levelled by the akali leaders said that he is ready for probe by any independent agency or a sitting judge of the High Court but, he also challenged SukhbirBadal to get the majithia’s complicity with the drug smugglers, patronage of gangsters and the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, probed with in a fixed time frame. The minister further said that he can give his consent in writing for the probe but Sukhbir and Majithia should also do so.
The minister also said that the statements of BikramMajithia amount to the pot calling the cattle black and the present Government is bearing the brunt of lawless situation and mismanagement of the jails created during the previous regime. The present Government after coming to power under the leadership of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, undertook revolutionary steps for reforming the jail department besides adopting the zero tolerance policy towards the gangster culture. During the 10 year tenure of the previous government, the incidents of jail violence increased whereas since his taking over as the jail minister, strong steps were initiated to put a stop to such incidents and he has sacked 10 jail officers/employees while suspending 50.
Mentioning the incidents of jail violence during previous regime, S. Randhawa said that Jalandhar’s old central jail witnessed riots on 7th January and 31st January, 2008. The District jail, Kapurthala witnessed riots on 23rd September, 2011, Central Jail Faridkot on 22nd April, 2013, District Jail Hoshiarpur on 10th June 2013. The High Security Nabha Jail saw big time gangsters fleeing on 27th November 2016 and in the aftermath of this, the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh initiated strong action against the gangsters.
Giving details of the reforms carried out by the present government, the minister said that CRPF has been deployed in Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Amritsar and Bathinda at main entrance, special security zone and frisking while 12 jails have seen setting up of the high security zones. Others measures include metal detectors at gates of high security zones, equipments like x-ray machines for manual frisking and checking materials, setting up of CCTVs at main places and control rooms, Buying of SLR and Pistols, QRT for outer security of jails, Sniffer dogs, recruitment of 735 jail warders and 84 matrons, 10 Deputy Jail Superintendents, 300 warders and matrons promoted as head warders and head matrons, 16 DSPs’ deployment for jail security etc.
Further, Karandeep Singh revealed that he was following the Chevrolet car in a Mahendra Bolero Camper car to assist in the escape of Anoop Singh and his accomplice Karan @ Kaka from the scene after commission of the murder.
It was further revealed that Anoop Singh, Karan @ Kaka and Karandeep Singh had thus actively prepared, planned and executed the murder of the actual victim, Babba.
On the basis of these disclosures by Karandeep Singh, sections 182, 420, 120B Indian Penal Code have been added in the FIR, and Karandeep Singh has been arrested by the police.
The investigation further disclosed that a business partner of Anoop Singh, who is based in Haryana, offered him and his aide, Karan, shelter there. He is being questioned for further details. Anoop Singh and Karan @ Kaka have also been arrested by a police party of Tarn Taran Police from Tohana, district Fatehabad, Haryana. They have also confessed.
Various contradictions in the statements of the family members and the employees of the factory owned by Anoop Singh and Karandeep Singh, as well as the differences in the skeletal features of the dead body from that of Anoop Singh, gave vital clues which helped the police authorities in tracing the murder case.
Divulging the motive behind the murder, the spokesperson said the investigation further pointed out that Anoop Singh was burdened by several loans and had insurance policies which would have benefited him financially, by faking his own death. He had insured loans totaling around Rs. 75 lakhs which could have been waived off as a result of his death. He also had a life insurance of Rs. 36 lakhs, as well as other policies, which would have resulted in total financial gains exceeding Rs. 1 crores, from loan waivers and direct financial benefits from insurance policies, had he been able to prove his death.
The choice of the victim and the conscious plan to burn the victim was made carefully to eliminate any chance of his positive identification.