In a massive development, the Punjab & Haryana High Court on Thursday ordered a judicial inquiry to probe the death of protesting farmer Shubhkaran Singh. Punjab and Haryana Governments have been at loggerheads ever since a young farmer in his 20s named Shubhkaran Singh died during farmers' protest near Khanauri border. Shubhkaran Singh who has been declared a martyr by the Punjab Government died on February 21, 2024. Shubhkaran Singh's autopsy report revealed that he died due to metallic bullet injuries that were allegedly fired by pallet guns by the forces deployed by the Haryana Government. The Punjab Government has filed an FIR against unknown in Shubhkaran Singh's death case.
Coming back to Shubhkaran Singh's judicial inquiry, the High Court also made it clear that the inquiry could not be handed over to Punjab or Haryana "for obvious reasons". The assertion came as the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji constituted a three-member committee, comprising a retired High Court judge and two ADGP-rank officers from Haryana and Punjab. The names are to be furnished by the States by 4 pm today. The court had given a month to committee to submit the report.
Shubhkaran Singh's autopsy report
Shubhkaran Singh's autopsy report was shared on Thursday. As per reports, Shubhkaran Singh's cause of death has been revealed as a 'head injury as a result of firearm' and that the victim died 'within a few minutes'. As per reports, Subhkaran Singh's autopsy report further suggest that two injuries were found on the victim’s skull, one of which proved fatal. "Multiple round metallic ‘balls’ (pellets) are recovered from both cerebral hemispheres that are all sealed in a jar and handed over to the investigating officer (IO) for ballistic expert opinion, if needed by the IO. The hair and skin around the wound and shaved hair are sealed in a jar and handed over to IO for GSR (gunshot residue) and ballistic opinion, if needed by the IO,” the report says of the first injury as quoted by a portal.