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Congress seeks CBI probe into killing of Ranbir

C.K. Chandramohan

DEHRA DUN: The Opposition Congress on Sunday sought a CBI probe into the gunning down of MBA graduate Ranbir Singh in an alleged encounter last Friday and is all set to raise the issue during the Uttarakhand Assembly’s budget session beginning on July 13.

The Dehra Dun police alleged that Ranbir was a one of the three criminals who attacked a sub inspector and escaped with his service pistol.

Ranbir’s body was cremated at his native village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. Villagers and family members sought a CBI probe, saying they did not have confidence in the CB-CID probe ordered by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

The Samajwadi Party and the Jat Maha Sabha also cried foul and sought action against the policemen responsible.

Human rights activist Avdhash Kaushal has threatened to move the Uttarakhand High Court and the National Human Rights Commission if the State failed to book the erring cops within three days.

A senior Home Department official said the case had been transferred to the CB-CID to facilitate an impartial probe. A magisterial enquiry had been ordered as per NHRC guidelines. Action would be taken against the policemen if found guilty, he said.

Inspector-General of Police, Garhwal range, M.A. Ganapati rubbished claims of Ranbir’s family that he had come here to take up a job with Kotek Mahindra as the company had denied hiring anyone with that name.

Ranbir and his two friends had checked into a dharamshala and were moving in Mohini Road area when they were stopped by sub-inspector Gopal Dutt Bhatt. Instead of showing him the papers, the trio attacked him, broke his finger and escaped with his service pistol in front of local residents. The sub inspector’s life was saved by a local samaritan who fired in the air from his revolver, forcing the three to flee. The trio, when cornered in the Raipur forests during a combing operation, fired at the police party who returned the fire killing one and injuring the others. The injured persons escaped, Mr. Ganapati said.

The injuries on Ranbir’s head, face and chin as reported in the post-mortem report might have been inflicted during a scuffle with the sub inspector and the 10 to 12 gun shots were those fired by the police, the IG said. He said their motorcycle had fake Haryana number plates.

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