The special investigation team (SIT) looking into the case of Ramneet Singh Uppal 'Romy' (24), convicted for murderous assault on Burundi student Yannick Nihangaza, who fled out of the country after jumping parole, has claimed that the commissionerate police had immediately issued a lookout notice so that he could not fly abroad.
The police after inquiring from the regional passport office in Jalandhar claimed that Ramneet did not have a passport.
Senior police officials said if Ramneet fled country, he fled via Nepal or he used a fake passport for the purpose.
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Naveen Singla who had gone on a week's leave has also joined back the investigation into the case.
Sources said the commissionerate police had also communicated to the central government to bring back Jaskaran Singh Kalsi, alias Jassa, through extradition from Australia. Jassa, who had flown on a student visa after the incident, was arrested in New South Wales.
The SIT has also started collecting information about the role of a Punjabi singer who is said to be close to Romy's family for helping the latter flee the country.
Police commissioner Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said, "I have checked the case details and came to know that Romy did not have any passport and a lookout notice was also issued about him at the Indian airports."
{{/usCountry}}Police commissioner Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said, "I have checked the case details and came to know that Romy did not have any passport and a lookout notice was also issued about him at the Indian airports."
{{/usCountry}}Singh said Romy might have used the Nepal route if he had fled the country. "The police have got vital clues in the case and we will make a breakthrough very soon," he claimed.
"Let the SIT complete its investigation. I can assure you that all accused will be arrested and those found guilty will face action," he said.
On July 7, the commissionerate police formed the SIT to investigate as how Romy fled out of India.
In October last year, a local fast-track court held Sumit Ralhan, 25, Sahildeep Singh, 21, Amandeep Singh, 24, Ramneet Singh Uppal, 24, Harsh Gosai, 24, Jaswant Singh, 21 and Amanbir Singh Bajwa, 25, guilty of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC.
Sections 452 (house trespass after preparation for injuring or wrongful restraint), 323 (causing hurt voluntarily), 148 (armed riot), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) were also applied before putting them in the Kapurthala jail.
Accused Jaskaran Singh and Rantaj Singh were declared proclaimed offenders. The former had flown to Australia on student visa after the incident.