The Hindu : Other States / Punjab News : Left seeks probe into Punjab police `failure'

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Monday, Jun 13, 2005

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Left seeks probe into Punjab police `failure'

`Dreaded terrorist Hawara was roaming freely for more than a year after his escape from jail'

CHANDIGARH: Lashing out at Punjab police for it's alleged intelligence failure in apprehending Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) India's chief Jagtar Singh Hawara since his escape from jail here for over one year, the left parties comprising the CPI and the CPI (M) on Sunday sought a judicial inquiry into it saying the dreaded militant had "links with high ups" in the State Government.

Hawara, prime accused in the assassination of late Chief Minister Beant Singh, after his escape from jail here was roaming freely in Punjab without changing his appearances and it was Delhi police which nabbed the dreaded terrorist, said Punjab CPI secretary Joginder Dayal and CPI (M) secretary Balwant Singh in a joint press conference here.

"It's a total failure on the part of Punjab intelligence," asserted the two leaders while demanding probe by a sitting judge of the supreme court in this matter.

Charging Patiala University Vice-Chancellor S.S. Boparai with having "links" with dreaded terrorists, the duo demanded that his should not be given further extension.

"Hawara along with other militants Jaspal Singh and Sajjan Singh was arrested from near Patiala University," the claimed adding that "even the University V-C had often been honoured by militants in the past."

"The V-C should be arrested immediately," they said. "The universities in Punjab are becoming dens of terrorists," they said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, had refuted claims that Punjab intelligence had failed in case of Hawara.

"Punjab police is doing it's job,' the Chief Minister had told reporters recently after the arrest of Hawara and others.

The left leaders also accused the Chief Minister of allegedly interfering in the religious affairs of Sikhs.

They questioned why Capt. Singh did not booked SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur after she threatened if the Hindi film `Jo Bole So Nihal' was not withdrawn than the sikhs know how to stop the screening of the controversial film.

"After the SGPC chief's utterances on the Hindi film the bomb blasts took place in cinemas in Delhi," they asserted. "The SGPC chief had challenged the State and despite this no sedition charges are imposed on her," they said.

They alleged that Akali Dal (Badal) was behind blasts in Delhi and cautioned the Chief Minister from following the "communal agenda" of the Akalis.

The left leaders reiterated that they would oppose privatisation of state electricity board, education and health.

Earlier, a protest march of left party activists which started from Hussainiwala on June 9 culminated here.

The state-level march was held to oppose the proposed move of Punjab Government to privatise electricity board, education and health, increasing unemployment, corruption and to strengthen Public Distribution System. -- PTI

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Left seeks probe into Punjab police `failure'