Former SHO gets life term in fake encounter case

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 27

In a 16-year-old fake encounter case, the special CBI court on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to former SHO of Ropar Sadar police station Harjinder Pal Singh.

Two other accused, the then DSP Avtar Singh and ASI Bachan Dass, have been ordered to live as good character for one year after holding them guilty. Another three tried in the case were acquitted.

The SHO was the key accused in the fake encounter of two alleged extremists Gurmail Singh and Kuldip Singh at Bhaddal village in Ropar in 1993. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on him.

Avtar Singh and Bachan Dass have been fined Rs 20,000 each. Those acquitted are the then Ropar DSP (D) Jaspal Singh and constables Harji Ram and Karnail Singh.

The CBI had registered a case in May 1997 on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, the Ropar police had registered an FIR on February 1, 1993.

The police had stated the SHO had gone to recover arms along with Kuldeep Singh and Gurmail Singh. It was stated that the police team was attacked by some unidentified persons near Bhadal village and the duo was killed in cross-firing between the attackers and the police. The accused cops later cremated the duo claiming them to be unidentified.

Other accused

Two other accused, the then DSP Avtar Singh and ASI Bachan Dass, have been ordered to live as good character for one year after holding them guilty.

Other three tried in the case — then Ropar DSP (D) Jaspal Singh and constables Harji Ram and Karnail Singh — have been acquitted.

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