Punjab Fake Encounter Case: Ex Cops, both 70+, get life for fake killings of jawan, kisan 32 years ago | Chandigarh News


Punjab ex-cops, both 70+, get life for fake killings of jawan, kisan 32 years ago

MOHALI: Two former Punjab Police officials, both aged over 70, were sentenced to life terms in prison on Tuesday over a fake encounter of two Sikh men — one a jawan in the army and the other a farmer — in 1992.
Former Majitha police station SHO Gurbhinder Singh (72) and former assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Parshotam Singh (70) were convicted of the staged encounter on Friday. They will be serving the jail terms under sections 302 read with 120-B and 218 of the Indian Penal Code.
The former cops have also been fined Rs 2 lakh each. Special CBI Judge Rakesh Kumar Gupta, in the sentence, said the convicts will have to undergo an additional 3.5 years in jail if they fail to pay their fine.
CBI public prosecutor Anmol Narang said Baldev Singh alias Deba and Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha, were killed in a staged encounter on Sept 13, 1992, by cops from Majitha and Amritsar.
Advocate Sarabjit Singh Verka said police officers, at the time, had claimed that the two men were hardcore terrorists with bounties on their head, and they were involved in numerous cases of murder, extortion, and dacoity, including the murder of Harbhajan Singh alias Shindi, son of then cabinet minister Gurmej Singh in the Beant Singh govt of Punjab.
During the investigation, it turned out that Deba was a lance naik in the Indian Army, while Lakha was a farmer. A CBI investigation established that Deba was apprehended from his residence at Baserke Bhaini village on Sept 6, 1992, by a police team led by SI Mohinder Singh and Harbhajan Singh, then the SHO of Chheharta police station. Likewise, Lakha was arrested from his rented accommodation at Preet Nagar, Amritsar, on Sept 12, 1992, along with a man called Kulwant Singh.
Lakha hailed from Sultanwind village, but he had been living Amritsar city. A police team led by Gurbhinder Singh, who was the SHO of Majitha police station, led the operation to arrest them. Kulwant was subsequently released.
The CBI, during its probe, concluded that Deba and Lakha were falsely implicated in the murder of a minister’s son on July 23, 1992. On Sept 13, 1992, both were killed in a staged encounter near Sansara village. CBI concluded that both men were detained illegally. No logbook entries existed regarding police vehicle movements.
On Nov 15, 1995, pursuant to apex court orders, CBI registered a case, filing charges on Aug 30, 1999. Witness statements were recorded post-2022 due to higher courts’ stay orders. Sarabjit Singh Verka, victims’ counsel, noted that of 37 cited witnesses, only 19 testimonies were recorded as many witnesses died during the prolonged trial.
During the extended trial period, several accused, including Harbhajan Singh, Mohinder Singh, Parshotam Lal, MohanSingh, and Jassa Singh, also passed away.
The remaining accused — SS Sidhu, the then DSP of Amritsar, Chaman Lal,the then CIA in-charge of Amritsar, Gurbhinder Singh, thethen SHO of Majitha, and ASI Parshotam Singh — faced trial in the case.





Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *