Relief to Saini will contribute to police impunity

On Wednesday,the SC set aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing CBI inquiry into the matter on the ethical ground that the HC judge ordering the inquiry had certain reason for prejudice against one of the accused police officer.

“The SC judges did not bother to take notice of CBI investigation recommending charge-sheet and trial against the accused police officers and wide impunity enjoyed by the guilty police officers over last two decades,” said Kulvir Singh Barrapind member of SGPC and praesidium member of Akali dal Panch Pardhani.

It is notable that the investigation conducted by CBI had revealed that high ranking police officers,including Punjab Vigilance Chief Sumedh Saini,were involved in enforced disappearance of the father,uncle and friend of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar,in 1991.

Barrapind said that widespread and systematic practice of enforced disappearance and secret killings was integral part of policing policy in Punjab during 1980-90s. “There are thousands of such cases which were never investigated,” he said.

“The SC’s decision will further contribute in imposing blind impunity zone in Punjab,thus it is unfortunate” he added.