GURDASPUR/ CHANDIGARH — The death of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in a pre-dawn alleged police encounter has snowballed into a major political controversy and human rights issue in Punjab. With sharply conflicting accounts between the state police and the deceased’s family, opposition leaders and civil rights groups are mounting pressure on the government, demanding an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Police Narrative

The Punjab Police claim the encounter was the culmination of a manhunt following the murder of two police personnel—ASI Gurnam Singh and Home Guard Ashok Kumar—at the Adhian border checkpost on February 22. As detailed by a report in The Indian Express, authorities allege Ranjit Singh and two associates were lured by Pakistan-based ISI handlers with a promise of financial reward.

As reported by The Tribune, police state that after his arrest, Ranjit Singh was being transported to recover the murder weapon when their vehicle overturned in dense fog. Ranjit Singh allegedly escaped around 3 am, only to be intercepted three hours later at 6 am near Purana Shala riding a motorcycle. According to the police, an exchange of fire ensued, resulting in Ranjit Singh’s death and injuries to a CIA Inspector.

Family’s Allegations and Refusal to Claim the Body

The official sequence of events has been fiercely contested by Ranjit Singh’s family and local villagers. According to a report in The Tribune, the family has refused to accept the teenager’s body until murder charges are registered against the police officers involved.

Ranjit Singh’s mother, Sukhwinder Kaur, publicly asserted that police had peacefully taken her son from their home on Tuesday afternoon for questioning. The family is questioning the logistical feasibility of the police’s timeline, specifically how a 19-year-old on the run managed to secure a motorcycle and a loaded weapon within a few hours of escaping police custody in the middle of the night.

Misl Satluj Appeals to Home Ministry

Adding to the chorus of voices demanding accountability, Misl Satluj President Ajaypal Singh Brar has formally written to the Union Home Minister requesting a time-bound CBI investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing of Ranjit Singh. A copy of the letter, available with Sikh Siyasat News, notes that the Gurdaspur incident has caused widespread fear and serves as a grim reminder of the dark period between 1982 and 1995, during which thousands of Sikh youths were killed in staged encounters.

Invoking the legacy of late human rights defender Jaswant Singh Khalra, who played a pivotal role in exposing past atrocities, the letter stresses the renewed need to stand up for targeted innocent youths. With the Home Minister scheduled to visit Punjab in March, Misl Satluj urged him to assure the Sikh community that their safety and human rights will be protected, emphasizing that a transparent inquiry is a vital step toward restoring public confidence in the rule of law.

Rising Political Backlash

The perceived loopholes in the police account have united various political factions and human rights organizations.

Credibility Deficit: A report in The New Indian Express highlights that Congress MP from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, has written a letter to the Union Home Minister citing a “credibility deficit” within the state police and urging the immediate transfer of the investigation to a central agency.

Opposition Leaders Visit Family, Question Police Story: As reported by The Times of India, leaders spanning the political spectrum, including SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia and Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, have visited the family to express solidarity. Khaira questioned the police’s logic, stating that if the boy were guilty, he would not have been calmly waiting at home to be arrested.

Human Rights Group Seek Judicial Probe: In a written statement sent to the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN), the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), led by Justice Ranjit Singh (retd), has termed the incident a grave violation of human rights and is pushing for a thorough investigation by a judicial commission.

Sikh Bodies Caution Against Police State in Punjab: Leaders of the Dal Khalsa and students’ organization Sath also visited Ranjit Singh’s family and maintained that the Punjab has been a police state since 1980s. They termed alleged police encounters as extra-judicial killings calling for impartial probe.

Panch Pardhani Jatha’s Prior Caution:

In a recently release statement Panch Pardhani Jatha of Panth Sewak collective cautioned that there was deliberate policy of the Indian state to create chaotic atmosphere in Punjab. Jatha said that the agencies may exploit this situation target Sikh and farmers’ leadership in Punjab.