Manohar Lal Khattar orders two-tier probe into Karnal clash

KARNAL: Reacting to the clash between Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students and police in Karnal on Friday that had left several injured, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has hinted at the possibility of a conspiracy. He has also announced that the entire incident would be investigated by two teams. While additional superintendent of police (ASP) Mukesh will probe the role of the police in the incident, SDM Narender Malik will look into the entire case.The action would be taken against those found guilty in the investigation.
To this, principal of ITI Baldev Singh said he had no faith in police investigation. “We demand judicial inquiry in this matter.”
Earlier this week, a 20-year-old ITI student and resident of Rindal village in the district was crushed under a Haryana Roadways bus. Upset over his death, his fellow students on Friday boycotted classes and came out to block NH-44.
According to the police, they tried to convince the protesters to disperse as they were disrupting traffic flow, but they refused to budge. After some time, some of the students started pelting stones on the cops. To control the situation, the police used tear gas shells and also fired in air to chase them away.
According to reports, the police later entered the ITI premises and resorted to lathicharge to bring students out. They also allegedly beat up the principal as well as staff members. As many as 30 cops and 15 students were injured in the incident.
A case of rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty and under the National Highway Act has been registered against 250 students.
After this incident, the situation at Karnal remained tense, but under control on Saturday. The district authorities deployed police in and around ITI to ensure law and order situation was normal.
The ASP said an investigation in the matter was underway.
“We demand action against police personnel, who thrashed students and staff members,” said Parveen Deswal, president of Haryana Industrial Training Association.