Dera killing: 2 months on, Barnala police fail to arrest all accused
The suspension of Tapa Mandi station house officer (SHO) Sanjeev Singla has been revoked without issuance of any chargesheet. The officer was suspended on charges of an alleged connivance with the accused dera men.
The sensational dera shootout case, in which two men were shot dead allegedly by another group of dera men on May 12, is still hanging fire as the Barnala police are yet to arrest all nine accused as four of them are still absconding.
Meanwhile, the suspension of Tapa Mandi station house officer (SHO) Sanjeev Singla has been revoked without issuance of any chargesheet. The officer was suspended on charges of an alleged connivance with the accused dera men.
The police have so far arrested five of the nine accused in the infamous dera killing case at Tapa Mandi. The SHO, who was suspended on that day, has been reinstated, but still looking after miscellaneous work in Police Lines. He has not been entrusted with any assignment of law and order or investigation.
The police had arrested two of the accused, Hemant Kumar and Raghunandan Dass on May 14, while three others, Barinder Dass, Dayal Dass and Bhuvneshwar Dass were arrested on May 19. Four others — Rameshwar Dass, Ramesh Kumar, Govind Dass and Kapil Kumar named in the FIR, are still at large.
The clash on May 12 involved gunfire and stone pelting by two rival groups fighting over control of Dera Thakur Dwara.
Tapa city in-charge Sarbjit Singh said, “Acused Hemant Kumar used his licensed .32 bore pistol and Raghunandan Dass used his licensed .12 bore gun in the clash. Dayal Dass used ‘Kahi’ (iron spade) while Barinder Dass and Bhuvneshwar Dass indulged in stone pelting. They have been arrested. We are hopeful to file challan in court in a week’s time.”
Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Achru Ram said, “We cannot disclose our findings but can assure that we are conducting an impartial inquiry.”
SSP Harjeet Singh said, “The departmental inquiry against SHO Singla is ongoing. It will be over within of three months. Suspension is not a punishment. We can take action against him if the inquiry reports warrants so.” “The SHO was re-instated during the tenure of previous SSP,” added Singh.