Special CBI court holds 2 former Punjab Police officers guilty for murder in 33-year-old fake encounter case

Gurbhinder Singh and Parshotam Singh person been convicted nether Section 302 (murder), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Gurbhinder Singh was besides convicted nether Section 218 (public servant framing incorrect record) of the IPC.

The tribunal acquitted erstwhile inspector Chaman Lal and lawman superintendent of constabulary (DSP) S S Sidhu giving them the payment of doubt.

It was claimed by the elder constabulary officers astatine that clip that some the deceased were hardcore terrorists having rewards connected their heads and were progressive successful implicit a 100 cases of murder, extortion, and dacoity, including the sidesplitting of Harbhajan Singh alias Shindi, lad of Gurmej Singh, the past Cabinet curate successful the Beant Singh-led Punjab government.

Investigation of this lawsuit was taken up by the CBI successful 1995 on orders of the Supreme Court. During the probe by the CBI, it was established that Baldev Singh Deba, an Army unit who had travel location connected leave, was picked up from his location astatine Baserke Bhaini colony connected September 6, 1992, by the constabulary enactment headed by SI Mohinder Singh and Harbhajan Singh, the past SHO of Chheharta constabulary station. Similarly, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha Ford, a nonmigratory of Sultanwind village, was besides picked from his rented location astatine Preet Nagar, Amritsar connected September 12, 1992, on with 1 Kulwant Singh by the constabulary enactment headed by SI Gurbhinder Singh, the past SHO of Majithia constabulary station, but Kulwant Singh was aboriginal released. During the investigation, CBI recovered that the constabulary of Chheharta constabulary presumption falsely implicated Deba and Lakha Ford successful the execution lawsuit of the minister’s lad who was killed connected July 23, 1992.

On September 12, 1992, the Chheharta constabulary arrested Baldev Singh Deba successful that execution case, and connected September 13, 1992, some helium and Lakha Ford were killed. The constabulary concocted the communicative that portion taking Baldev Singh Deba adjacent Sansara colony for betterment of arms and ammunition, an brushwood took spot with militants successful which Baldev Singh Deba and 1 attacker were killed. The different deceased was aboriginal identified arsenic Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha alias Ford.

CBI concluded that some were picked, kept successful amerciable custody, and past killed successful a fake encounter. The cardinal investigating bureau besides recovered that determination was nary introduction successful log books regarding the sojourn of constabulary vehicles astatine the alleged brushwood site. Even though it was shown by the constabulary that the chartless militant killed during the brushwood was identified by injured Baldev Singh Deba, arsenic per the postmortem report, Deba died instantly and truthful recognition by him does not arise.

On November 15, 1995, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI enquiry into the substance of the cremation of large-scale dormant bodies by the constabulary arsenic unclaimed. In pursuance of these orders, a lawsuit was registered by the CBI and connected August 30, 1999, CBI filed complaint expanse against S S Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, Mohinder Singh, Parshotam Lal, Chaman Lal, Gurbhinder Singh, Mohan Singh, Parshotam Singh and Jassa Singh for kidnapping, transgression conspiracy, murder, and mentation of mendacious record. But statements of witnesses were recorded aft 2022 arsenic the lawsuit remained stayed owing to the orders of higher courts.

Sarabjit Singh Verka, counsel for the victims’ families, said, “Although CBI cited 37 witnesses successful this case, statements of lone 19 witnesses person been recorded during the proceedings arsenic astir of the witnesses cited by the CBI had died during delayed proceedings and yet aft 32 years of the incident, justness is delivered.”

Similarly, during this delayed trial, the accused namely Harbhajan Singh, Mohinder Singh, Parshotam Lal, Mohan Singh, and Jassa Singh had besides died, and accused S S Sidhu, Chaman Lal, Gurbhinder Singh and Parshotam Singh faced the trial.