HC raps Punjab Police for delay in probe
Chandigarh, Oct. 13 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday flagged gaps in the Punjab Police probe into the violence at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, last month and gave a "last opportunity" to the state police before it considers transferring the case to an independent agency.
During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an independent probe into the violence, the court questioned the state government why the person who posted the alleged rape rumour had not been questioned or arrested.
The court also took a serious note of submissions by senior advocate Gaurav Chopra, who pointed out that from the affidavit, the police had virtually given a "clean chit" in the case.
He also highlighted that police failed to properly investigate any common link between the LPU violence and a similar incident reported at Chitkara University a few days earlier.
"The fears which are highlighted before the court, we are taking it very seriously. Please take up things in the right perspective," the bench remarked when Chopra read out various details about the case, including that nine cops were injured and arson reported at the university resulted in a Rs.30-crore loss.
The state's counsel on the other hand told the court that the ambit of the probe had been widened; counter-intelligence and the state cyber unit were probing the matter now, and sought four weeks to complete the probe.
While giving time till October 27, the court asserted that before considering the prayer for transferring the investigation to an independent agency, it was giving a last opportunity to the state police to examine the matter in the "correct perspective".
High security arrangements were put in place as the academic session resumed at LPU on Monday after remaining closed since the September 26 and 27 violence. A heavy rush of students was witnessed as parents arrived to drop off their wards. Dr Sorabh Lakhanpal, executive dean and head of student welfare, said though online classes were already underway, the academic session resumed completely in the offline mode on Monday.
As many as 89 students have been nominated in the criminal FIRs registered for vandalising LPU property and torching three police vehicles. The police have already arrested 17, including 15 students of the university.
LPU has also served disciplinary notices to the accused students, directing appearance before the board on October 14....
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