The Punjab government on Wednesday transferred the probe into the August 6 murderous attack on state Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh vice-chief Brigadier Jagdish Ganeja (retd) in Jalandhar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The move comes in the wake of Punjab Police probe hitting a dead-end into the case, said sources. “The recommendation for handing over the case to the CBI was made by director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora,” said the government spokesman.
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Two bike-borne attackers had opened fire at Gagneja near the busy Red Cross market in Jalandhar. He was first rushed to a local hospital from where he was shifted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana where he continues to battle for life.
Source said the special investigation team headed by Bureau of Investigation chief additional director general of police IPS Sahota has failed to locate the route taken by the attackers who fled after firing at Gagneja. Also, the Jalandhar police failed to take a swift action after the crime. The top brass of Jalandhar police was seen at the hospital where Gagneja was admitted immediately after the attack and there was crucial delay in start of the probe. The police move to announce a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information on attackers didn’t elicit any response.
{{/usCountry}}Source said the special investigation team headed by Bureau of Investigation chief additional director general of police IPS Sahota has failed to locate the route taken by the attackers who fled after firing at Gagneja. Also, the Jalandhar police failed to take a swift action after the crime. The top brass of Jalandhar police was seen at the hospital where Gagneja was admitted immediately after the attack and there was crucial delay in start of the probe. The police move to announce a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information on attackers didn’t elicit any response.
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The government, on its part, said the attack was the handiwork of anti-national elements that had links with extremist elements abroad.
The government’s release on Wednesday said since the underlying motive in the attack on Gagneja was to disturb peace in Punjab, the decision to shift the case to CBI was taken to widen the probe.