Tarn Taran Assault Case> Usma village sarpanch, key witness not given security
Monday, 25/03/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130325/punjab.htm#6
Chandigarh : A controversy is brewing over the issue of providing security to the Tarn Taran police assault victim, her family and other “victims”.
The Centre was asked by Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to provide the victim and other petitioners with CRPF security. Available information suggests the Union of India has provided security only to the victim, her father and brother while her uncle Gurmukh Singh, village sarpanch Sukhraj Singh and star witness Jagjit Singh have been left out.
The issue of Centre’s alleged failure to fully comply with the High Court orders is expected to be raised by petitioner’s counsel Gurvinder Singh Sidhu when the case comes up for resumed hearing on Monday afternoon. A reply filed by the counsel for the Union of India, Onkar Singh Batalvi, is also scheduled to be placed before Justice Ranjit Singh during the hearing.
Already, the CRPF top brass is facing contempt of court proceedings in the matter. Justice Ranjit Singh, on the previous date of hearing, had asserted: “Notice be issued to the IGP, CRPF, as to why proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act be not initiated against him for not complying with the order”.
The notice was issued after Sidhu appeared before Justice Ranjit Singh with a plea that the previous orders for providing protection to the Tarn Taran victim, her family and other petitioners had not been complied with. Soon after the issuance of notice, the CRPF provided eight personnel to the victim and her immediate family.
The matter was initially placed before Justice Ranjit Singh after the victim, her father and other relatives moved the High Court, seeking necessary action against the police “for not only blatant violation of basic human rights” and outraging the victim’s modesty in full public view, “but also for threats being issued to them for withdrawing the complaint”.
