Chandigarh: Chairman of Majha Ex-Servicemen Human Rights Front (MESHRF) Colonel (retd.) G. S. Sandhu has demanded CBI inquiry against Punjab Police I.G. Paramraj Umaranangal for his involvement in fake encounters and extra-judicial killings during 1990s period in Punjab.
While addressing a press conference in Chandigarh Col. Sandhu said that in year 2007 he came to know that a Sikh militant Gurnam Singh Bundala who was allegedly gunned down by the then Ropar DSP Paramraj Umaranangal and his police party in 1994 was still alive. Paramraj Umaranangal,who is now at the rank of IG of Punjab police, had received cash reward and “gallantry” award for allegedly ‘killing’ Gurnam Singh Bundala in that encounter.
![Colonel (retd.) G. S. Sandhu Advo. Tejinder Singh Soodan and Advo. Yadwinder Singh Dhillon [File Photo]](https://sikhsiyasat.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Colonel-retd.-G.-S.-Sandhu-e1411027822698.jpg)
Colonel (retd.) G. S. Sandhu Advo. Tejinder Singh Soodan and Advo. Yadwinder Singh Dhillon [File Photo]. INSET – Gurnam Singh Bundala (L) and Family Members of Sukhpal Singh (R)
He further stated that a poor family from Gurdaspur district told him that in reality it was their innocent son Sukhpal Singh S/O Jagir Singh (resident of Kala Afgana village) who was killed by Paramraj Umranangal and his police party while presenting him as Gurnam Singh Bundala.
He said that DSP Paramraj Umaranangal (as he was then) deliberately hid the identification of Sukhpal Singh, killed him in fake encounter and presented his dead-body as that of Gurnam Singh Bundala to claim head-money.
He alleged that when his organization raised the issue the senior police officers tried to snub the issue. But after the case was highlighted by print media in 2007, the then D.G.P. N S Aulakh ordered an inquiry into the fake encounter of Sukhpal Singh.
All efforts to track the progress of the probe through ‘Right to Information’ (RTI) applications went in vain as every-time the police took a plea that the matter was still under investigation by DIG Ropar, Col. Sandhu added.
He also expressed shock that Paramraj Umaranangal was awarded promotions during the pendency of probe and even his name was recommended for top-police awards.
A petition seeking CBI probe in this matter still lays pending before Punjab and Haryana High Court.
It is notable that Indian security forces, including Punjab police, were indulged in wide-spread and systematic human rights abuses in 1980s-90s. Enforced disappearances, custodial torture and death, fake encounters were common policing practice during that period.