Who is IPS PS Umranangal — Know More It

Who Is Paramraj Singh Umranangal?

S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal, a highly regarded senior IPS officer, hails from a well-known political family in Punjab. During the tumultuous period of militancy in the region, his family played a pivotal role in promoting national unity. His grandfather, Sardar Jiwan Singh Umranangal, who was once an Akali legislator and minister, was one of the brave few who openly denounced the militant takeover of the Golden Temple by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed group, as well as their harmful actions against the nation.

His Accomplishment

Additionally, he was the only Sikh leader who traveled through rural areas promoting unity and peace between the Hindus and Sikhs of Punjab, while many others were reluctant to make any public declarations due to the terror instilled by the militants.

Their Fight for the Betterment of Punjab

Due to his unwavering stance on important issues, he quickly became a prime target for extremist groups. Despite numerous assassination attempts, his son, the father of S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal, was tragically killed in a daylight attack. Paramraj Singh Umranangal, who had recently joined the police force, was also targeted but courageously stood his ground against the armed militants and emerged victorious from multiple dangerous confrontations.

Throughout his career, he has been acknowledged multiple times for his bravery and dedication to the country and has received two nominations for the presidential award.

Desecration of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib

In June 2015, a series of incidents involving the desecration of the holy Guru Granth Sahib occurred in Punjab, aimed at inciting communal animosity. The pages of the sacred text were discovered torn and dispersed in various locations throughout the state, causing widespread public outrage and demonstrations in multiple locations.

Kotkapura Protest

In Kotkapura, a massive demonstration took place where thousands of individuals congregated in the city center and caused disruptions to daily activities. The current government, consisting of the Akali-BJP coalition, faced heavy opposition and was pressured to intervene. They swiftly dispatched a large number of law enforcement officials to the area, including officers from nearby districts and the Faridkot district where Kot Kapura falls under its jurisdiction.

Several officers were deployed to the location to engage in discussions with the protest leaders and try to convince them to end the dharna. S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal, who had previously served as the IG of the Bhatinda range, was appointed as the police commissioner in Ludhiana. Due to his prior experience, he was well-acquainted with the local community and had established personal connections with several prominent figures in the area.

Therefore, the DGP of Punjab tasked S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal with resolving the conflict in Kotkapura. He was not the only one to receive such an assignment. Other senior officers from neighboring districts including Moga, Ferozpur, and Bathinda, who held the ranks of SSP, DIG, and IG, were also sent to the area with similar directives.

The Incident (October 14th, 2015)

After numerous discussions and negotiations between the leaders of the protest and the demonstrators, they all reached a consensus to end the sit-in peacefully on October 14th. The protesters voluntarily submitted themselves to police custody as per the agreement. The district administration was informed of this development and local police officers arranged for transportation. Several high-ranking police officials were present in Kot Kapura to oversee the orderly resolution of the demonstration.

The presence of high-ranking police officials was noted during the incident, including the ADGP for law and order, two other IGs, multiple DIGs and SSPs, and S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal who held the rank of IG but was not the most senior officer present. The incident was captured on the CC cameras located in the chowk, with approximately one hour of footage recorded. Of this hour, over 50 minutes showed the polite exchange between the police officials and the leaders of the protest as the protesters cooperatively submitted to their arrests and were led away.

The sudden altercation is captured between two opposing groups, resulting in stones being thrown by an irate crowd, causing the police to retreat. Eventually, the police launches a counterattack and successfully disperses the demonstrators. The crowd can be seen armed with sticks and swords, attacking police vehicles and the police retaliate with a water cannon, as well as destroying some sound equipment.

On the day of the police firing in the nearby village of Bargari, S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal was not present and did not have any control over the police. He was not observed giving any instructions or wielding any firearms. Sadly, two individuals lost their lives as a result of the incident.

The Aftermath

The altercation in Kotkapura resulted in several casualties, including over 40 police officers, one of whom held the rank of IGP. Unfortunately, a protester was also hit with a shot in the leg, necessitating medical attention including surgery.

A police officer was severely injured and still remains paralyzed from the waist down. Neither the injured police officers nor the protesters received any compensation.

In response to public demands, the Akali-BJP state government established an inquiry commission under the leadership of a retired judge. Later, when the Congress party took control of the state government, they also appointed another commission to investigate the matter.

The findings from both investigations revealed numerous shortcomings from various individuals, but none were singled out as the sole cause of the conflict. These unfortunate events were not deemed intentional, although mistakes in decision-making were acknowledged.

Special Investigation Team Investigation

Following the establishment of the latest Special Investigation Team (SIT), S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal fully cooperated with the team and engaged in multiple meetings with them. He provided an accurate account of all events to the best of his capacity. However, in early 2019, he was the only one out of several of his colleagues in Kotkapura who was taken into custody and accused of trying to kill one of the wounded individuals in Kotkapura. Eventually, S. Paramraj Singh Umranangal was granted bail by the Faridkot district court.

In his ruling, the judge concurred with the defense counsel’s assertion that the riot that occurred that day was not premeditated and that several law enforcement officers were also injured during the chaos.

He also agreed that there was no evidence that S. PS Umranangal had any direct role in the injuries sustained by protesters.