Dehradun: Uttarakhand government has recommended a CBI probe into death of an MBA graduate from Ghaziabad in an alleged "fake encounter".
Ranbir Singh was killed on Friday in Dehradun
The move follows Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank's statement that his government was ready for the CBI probe.
"I have full faith in the CB-CID. But if the family members of Ranbir want a CBI probe into the matter, we will not shy away from it also," Nishank said on Monday after meeting the father of 22-year-old Ranbir Singh.
Ranbir's father Ravindrapal Singh and other relatives met the Chief Minister at state secretariat on Monday afternoon and demanded a CBI probe into the incident.
They also demanded stern action against the "erring" police officials.
Earlier, the Dehradun SSP said that there was no evidence to show that Ranbir was a criminal. A case of murder was registered against an SSP and 6 policemen allegedly involved in this encounter.
Besides the main opposition Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal, the ruling BJP leaders and human rights activists supported the demand of Singh's family for a CBI probe into the killing after the autopsy report revealed that he was shot from close range and injury marks showed that he may have been tortured.
BJP president Rajnath Singh, an MP from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, reportedly spoke to Nishank over telephone over the issue and asked him to sympathetically consider the demand for a CBI probe.
Facing mounting pressure from various quarters, Nishank on Sunday night held a high-level meeting with top administrative and police officials over the issue and later announced the removal of Dehradun SSP Amit Sinha from the post. Seven policemen including, Sub-Inspector G D Bhatt, involved in the encounter, were sent to police lines.
Dehradun encounter background
- On July 3, 22 year old Ranbir Singh was gunned down by police, allegedly after he picked up a fight with a sub-inspector.
- The killing was painted an encounter police. The police said he snatched a service revolver, fled and even fired at them. That's when they were forced to fire.
- His family says Ranbir was innocent and that the MBA graduate from Indirapuram was in Dehradun to join a private company.
- Ranbir's autopsy reveals that he was shot at least 10 times from close range and there were numerous injury marks on his body.
- Left with little option, a case of murder was registered against the 6 police officials involved in the alleged fake encounter.
- On Tuesday, after the family demanded a CBI inquiry, the Uttarakhand chief minister said he had no objection to it.
(With PTI inputs)