CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued notice to the Punjab government on a plea seeking CBI probe into the killing of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh Sandhu and protection to his family. Notices have been issued to home secretary Punjab, Union government through MHA, and the DIG, Ferozepur range-cum-chairman special investigation team (SIT), which is probing into the matter.
Justice Karamjit Singh has issued the notice after taking cognisance of a petition filed by Jagdish Kaur Sandhu, widow of Balwinder Sandhu who was shot by assailants in Tarn Taran district on October 16. The petitioner, who herself is a Shaurya Chakra awardee, has sought directions to refer the murder investigation to CBI for probe. She has expressed apprehensions that some Punjab Police officials who are involved with anti-social elements may obstruct a fair probe by the department.
She has also sought directions for providing protection to her family from security personnel of the central government, action against those Punjab Police officers who are responsible for dereliction of their official duty on account of withdrawing security from her house, leading to murder of her husband.
According to the petitioner, during the days of terrorism in Punjab after 1984, her husband and the entire family had stood against it and never turned their back towards the nation, without a care for their own lives and property. She further submitted that they were attacked multiple times by terrorists in 1990-1991 but fought bravely. It was only because of their bravery, that four members of the family had been awarded Shaurya Chakra by the President in 1993.