Consequent to the orders of the Punjab and Haryana HighCourt, the Punjab Government on Friday constituted a new three-member SpecialInvestigation Team (SIT), comprising of senior IPS officers and directed it tocomplete the investigations into the Kotkapura firing incident, preferably insix months, as per the court’s orders.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson saidthat the newly constituted SIT, comprising ADGP/Vigilance Bureau L.K. Yadav,Commissioner of Police Ludhiana Rakesh Agarwal and DIG Faridkot Range SurjitSingh would investigate the two FIRs (dated Oct 14, 2015, and Aug 7, 2018)registered in connection with the Kotkapura firing incidents. As per the ordersissued by the Home Department, the SIT would ensure meticulous compliance ofthe directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court stipulating that therewould be no interference from any quarter; internal or external, in theinvestigations.
The order explicitly states that the SIT shall workjointly, and all its members would put their signatures on all the proceedingsof the investigation and the final report. The members of the SIT would also becited as witnesses in the list as the investigating officers, the order states.
The order further states that the SIT would not report toany State executive or police authority regarding the investigations and wouldreport only to the concerned Magistrate, in accordance with the law. The members ofSIT has been also directed not to leak any part of the investigation and refrainfrom interacting with media regarding the various aspects of theinvestigations. Further, the SIT members would not respond, directly orindirectly, to any doubt or opinion expressed by anyone regarding the ongoinginvestigations.
The SIT has been authorized to seek the assistance of otherperson(s) and experts for the purpose of the investigation, added thespokesperson.