Dehradun: The body of Ranbir Singh, a 24-year old MBA student, who was killed in an alleged encounter by the Dehradun police, bore 12 marks of bullets and 27 other injuries, casting doubts that he may have been tortured before death. According to the post-mortem examination report, 12 bullet marks revealed that Singh was fired from close range. In another development, Singh's family today demanded a CBI inquiry. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has ordered a high-level inquiry into the killing. "We are considering a high-level inquiry. I had ordered a magisterial inquiry and handed it over to the Additional District Magistrate. We will hand over the inquiry to the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department," said Nishank. Expressing its support, the Congress also sought an inquiry by the Central agency.

     Ranbir Singh was killed in the encounter that took place here on Friday. He was riding a motorcycle with his two friends when the police stopped him at a check post. Police alleged the three men got into an altercation with a sub-inspector who had asked them to stop and then fled into a nearby forest after snatching his service revolver. In the ensuing encounter, Ranbir was gunned down while the other two managed to escape.

     The body was handed over to his relatives after the post-mortem examination on Saturday. Ranbir's brother said that the victim was innocent and was framed. "Now when the police is returning the body, they had marked the body as a criminal, but later they corrected it. This means, he was not a criminal. They had framed him," said Sandeep, Ranbir's brother. Police had earlier claimed Ranbir to be a criminal. Ranbir was riding a motorcycle with his two friends when the police stopped him at a check post. Police alleged the three men got into an altercation with a sub-inspector who had asked them to stop and then fled into a nearby forest after snatching his service revolver. In the ensuing encounter, Ranbir was gunned down while the other two managed to escape.

     Meanwhile, the parents are crying foul. They said on Saturday that their son had no criminal background and his killing was a clear case of mistaken identity. The state's Principal Secretary (Home), Subhash Kumar, said that a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Senior Superintendent of Police (Dehradun) said Singh was riding a motorcycle along with two others and snatched the revolver of a constable when their two-wheeler was stopped during a checking of vehicles in view of President Pratibha Patil's visit. His inconsolable parents maintained his innocence and demanded that his criminal record be shown to them. "The police just killed him to get (gallantry) medals. And the police are threatening me now," his father said. Uttarakhand Inspector General of Police NA Ganapati said the three boys were asked to stop by GD Bhatt, a sub-inspector at Dalanwala area. When the police searched their bag, a weapon was found in it, he said, adding that the boys overpowered Bhatt, snatched his revolver and fled. When the SI flashed a message over the wireless, the boys were intercepted at another place and there was an encounter in which Ranbir was killed, Ganapati said.
-July 5, 2009