I can't return to cremate my father, I fear for my life: Charanjeet Singh

Charanjeet Singh, 20, has been in news for being the daughter of the recently killed gangster, Anandpal Singh, who was shot dead by the Special Operations Group in Churu. The SOG is on the lookout for her as she is an accused as an accomplice in her father's daring escape from police custody. Charanjeet Singh, affectionately called Cheenu at home, continues to stay out of the country even as her family steadfastly refuses to cremate her father's body, demanding a CBI probe into the encounter. Charanjeet Singh talks to DNA about her fears, questioning cops' version and recalls what IG SOG said. Excerpts:

About the encounter...

The encounter is fake. The cop's story and the ground reality does not match. The police say my uncles were arrested from Sirsa in Haryana and then brought to Malasar in Churu. It's a 180-kilometre journey. The time they say is simply not enough, especially with the quality of roads. The police has branded him as a sharpshooter. They say he had an AK-47 which he used to fire 100 rounds. Not even a single bullet touched a cop. My father, however, was hit in all his organs.

But, police say their commandoes are well trained...

Of course, they say their commandoes never miss. My question is how could they manage to shoot him by looking at a mirror on a new moon night when the power had been cut off! The same commandos failed to take him out at Gudha Bhagwandas.

Police say they were forced to shoot at him as he fired first

He was shot after he surrendered. My uncles were arrested earlier. My father had, therefore, surrendered and was shot while coming down the stairs. This is why Shrawan Singh (The man who sheltered Anandpal in Malasar) and his family are being kept in isolation and no one is being allowed to meet.

Why don't you return home?

It has been a painful week, I was close to him. I wanted to come back, get him cremated with complete rites and rituals. But if I come, they could kill me too.

But, you could have sought assurance from cops?

I had got a message from Dinesh MN (IG, SOG who was assigned to hunt Anandpal) after my father was encountered. He wanted to speak to me. We spoke twice, He told that he did not want the encounter to happen, You can come back you will not be arrested, he had told me. He told me to take his word for it, I asked him to give me this assurance in writing, But he did not say anything. How do I trust him. I was not in conversation with my father, despite police claims of me being having masterminded his escape. My father had to escape. He was compelled to do so to save his life,

Why did he fear for his safety?

All this is happening due to political reasons, I will not take names but many politicians were close to him. Some of the big shots have won the election just because of my father, she said referring to a minister. Had it not been for him, he would have lost, but then this is what one can expect from netas.

But your father stands accused of crimes. Nagaur SP is asking the people not to emulate him

My father did not rob the poor. He did not burn their houses or rape their women. He was a victim of the circumstances. And, to me my father is a hero... Any parent should think they have brought their child up well if they can instil a sense of compassion and righteousness that my father had in me. I do not care much for the messages that the police is sending out. This just proves my point, he is a hero. This is why people are protesting against cop action and are coming out in his support across the state.

What was the last conversation you had with him?

The last time I spoke to my father was on 31st December 2016, it was my brother's birthday. He told me I am his eldest child and I have to take care of the family. I will honour his wish as long as I live. I shall always remember what he often said – it is very easy to help others when you have everything, What is important is to help the needy when you're already troubled.