Farewell,Khushpreet

“The IGP has told us that a Magisterial probe has been ordered to fix the responsibility of each and every police officer who dealt with the case. The police officials would get severe punishment for whatever errors were committed,” Lakhbir Singh told mediapersons at the police headquarters,Sector 9.

Meanwhile,heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the cremation ground in Sector 25 as the body of Khushpreet Singh ‘Khushi’ was consigned to the flames this evening. Amidst heavy police deployment at the cremation ground,a large number of Burail residents bid a final adieu to the five-year-old who was kidnapped and later found dead.

The cries of the inconsolable parents and relatives filled the air at the cremation ground. Not an eye at the cremation ground was left dry at the tragic end of such a young life. Apprehending tension,a large number of policemen were present at the spot. Quick reaction teams were on alert in case tempers ran high. Leaders from various political parties also made their presence felt.

Earlier in the day,the family and members of various associations held a meeting at Lakhbir Singh’s residence to chalk out the future course of action. It was decided that the IG would be asked to suspend the police officials who were responsible for the investigation,in addition to the magisterial inquiry that had been marked on Thursday. It was decided to allow the post mortem to be held only after suspension of the police personnel. However,after assurances from the IG,the family gave consent for the post mortem.

Meanwhile,a criminal complaint seeking registration of an FIR on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against various Police officers including Inspector General P K Srivastava and Naunihal Singh,Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP),Chandigarh was filed in a lower Court today. The complaint was filed by Advocate Arvind Thakur on account of alleged criminal negligence by the Chandigarh Police in having failed to recover five-year-old Khushpreet Singh who was murdered by his abductors.

The Court summoned entire records pertaining to Khushpreet’s case. The case will come up for resumed hearing on January 14. Thakur,in his complaint,has submitted that the Chandigarh Police did not make any effort to recover the child. Thakur has alleged that the child died due to negligence of the Chandigarh Police.

Gradually,life started returning to normal at Burail today,with some shopkeepers opening their shops. The police took out a flag march in the market. Fearing tension after seeing the police,the shopkeepers started closing their stores but the police asked them not to do so. In one part of the market,none of the shopkeepers started business.