By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: The alleged fake encounter of 21-year-old Ranjit Singh in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district has snowballed into a major political controversy, providing fresh ammunition to the Opposition against the Bhagwant Mann-led government. With court-monitored post-mortem proceedings underway and senior political leaders demanding an independent probe, the case is fast emerging as a potential flashpoint ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Ranjit Singh, a resident of village Adian in Gurdaspur, was shot dead in what Punjab Police described as an exchange of fire. Police claimed that Ranjit and his associates — Dilawar Singh and Inderjit Singh — were involved in the killing of two policemen, ASI Gurnam Singh and Home Guard constable Ashok Kumar, who were shot dead on February 22 by unidentified assailants.
According to the police version, Ranjit Singh had escaped from custody after the vehicle carrying him overturned. He allegedly fled despite being handcuffed and later managed to reach nearly 8 kilometres away on a motorcycle, where he was killed in a gunfight on February 25. Police encounter near Puranashala village, about 8 km from Gurdaspur on the Gurdaspur-Mukerian road, on early February 25. Police further claimed that the trio had links with Pakistan’s ISI and that the killings were part of a larger conspiracy to disturb peace in the border state.
However, the police narrative has come under intense scrutiny. Questions have been raised over how a handcuffed accused could escape custody, travel such a long distance, and engage in a firefight. Ranjit’s family has alleged that he was picked up from his home for questioning and later killed in a staged encounter.Police had removed all DVDs of CCTV cameras in the village to eliminate evidence against police party that picked Ranjit Singh.
Amid mounting allegations, the Gurdaspur court has ordered a fresh post-mortem examination by a board comprising three medical experts and two forensic science specialists. The post-mortem was conducted in the presence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, lending weight to concerns over the circumstances of the killing.
In a significant move, the court has also directed telecom companies to preserve mobile location records of the police officers involved in the encounter, a step that could prove crucial in verifying the sequence of events.
Pos-mortem held under CJM supervision
Amid mounting allegations, the Gurdaspur court has ordered a fresh post-mortem examination by a board comprising three medical experts and two forensic science specialists. The post-mortem was conducted in the presence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, lending weight to concerns over the circumstances of the killing. Court has also ordered medical check of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff in charge, Gurmeet Singh who sustained bullet injury in the encounter to ascertain if the injury was self inflicted.
Opposition leaders have seized upon the case, alleging that the encounter was fabricated to shield the real culprits and deflect public anger over deteriorating law and order.
Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, along with Congress MLA and former minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and former MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, visited the bereaved family at Adhian village. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira too attended a protest rally by family in Gurdaspur on March 2. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia have all demanded a high-level probe, either by the CBI or by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Panchayat of village Adian has also passed a resolution seeking CBI inquiry into the killing of Ranjit Singh in police encounter.
They have alleged that the state government, under pressure following the killing of the two policemen, forced the police to eliminate Ranjit Singh to present quick results. The Opposition claims that the real perpetrators remain unidentified and at large.
On the other hand, leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party have backed the police version, endorsing the claim of an ISI connection and asserting that Ranjit Singh and his associates were directly involved in the double murder.
The controversy comes at a time when Punjab Police has been aggressively pursuing an anti-gangster campaign, claiming to have arrested over 15, 000 miscreants and gangster associates. Critics, however, point to the fact that one of the named accused, Inderjit Singh, reportedly has a criminal record and was roaming free despite the crackdown.
The killing of the two policemen had already shaken public confidence. Now, the circumstances surrounding Ranjit Singh’s death have deepened mistrust and intensified the political battle.