Chandigarh, February 27
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar, referring to the questions arising in the minds of the public regarding the killing of a youth in a police encounter in Gurdaspur district, urged the government to take the initiative to conduct an impartial investigation in order to prove its credibility. He said that the version being put forward by the police is creating doubts among the public and is raising serious questions about the credibility of the government and the police. He stated that the government has lost the trust of the people, and citizens are no longer able to believe what it says. Therefore, to restore its lost credibility, it is essential for the government to come forward and order an impartial inquiry.
Addressing a press conference here, Jakhar said that staged encounters are unacceptable in any civilized society. He termed them a gross violation of human rights and added that, in the context of Punjab, it becomes even more important to conduct a serious investigation in such cases because the state has endured a long and painful history of fake encounters during its dark phase.
Jakhar clarified that he is neither saying who is guilty and who is innocent, nor is he claiming whether the encounter was fake or genuine. However, he said that the police narrative is not being accepted by the public. The deceased’s family and society at large are raising questions. He said it is astonishing that a young man escaped from police custody and, within a short time—late at night—managed to obtain a motorcycle and a weapon, only to be killed in an encounter at the next checkpoint. Answers to such questions, he said, can only emerge through an impartial investigation.
Jakhar emphasized that even if someone is guilty, the authority to punish lies with the courts. When the police themselves act as judge and deliver punishment, it poses one of the gravest challenges to democracy. Therefore, a time-bound and impartial inquiry into the encounter is necessary, with the inclusion of social activists as well, so that the questions being raised about the police’s credibility can be addressed.
Questioning Arvind Kejriwal directly, the BJP president said that he should take the initiative to order an impartial investigation into the matter. Punjab, he said, demands justice. Even if the youth had indeed committed a crime, killing him in an encounter would be an even bigger crime.
Jakhar further said that the police versions given after every encounter show striking similarities. He questioned whether the police have learned nothing from past encounters—whether no lessons were drawn about exercising greater force and vigilance while transporting such individuals. He called this approach flawed. He said that even if the police account is true, the government must still come forward to order an impartial probe to prove its credibility. Otherwise, statements by police officers are failing to satisfy the people of Punjab. The growing public discontent, he warned, could push this border state into serious danger.
Speaking on another issue, Jakhar raised questions over the state government’s decision to recruit 117 anti-drug executives on a contractual basis under its “war against drugs” campaign. He asked whether the government has the right to appoint its favored individuals in matters related to law and order. He alleged that corruption has reached its peak under the AAP government in Punjab and that the rate of bribery has increased in every office. Punjab, he said, is being steadily exploited by outsiders.
The BJP president concluded by saying that only the BJP can resolve these problems, and that the people of Punjab have made up their minds in the upcoming elections about how to get rid of this corrupt government.
