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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
1993 fake encounter case: 3 former cops sentenced 3-8 yrs of RI with fines, two acquitted
Thirty years after a Phagwara resident was killed in a fake police encounter in 1993, a Special CBI Court in Mohali on Saturday sentenced three former Punjab Police officers to three to eight years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) with fines and acquitted two constables of all charges. Delivering judgment, Special Judge-II Baljinder Singh Sra held Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Karamjit Singh, former Inspector Manjit Singh and former Sub-Inspector Gurmej Singh guilty of the crime and acquitted Constables Kashmir Singh and Harjit Singh of all charges. The court framed charges under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), read with 342 (wrongful confinement), 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) — charges under IPC sections 342 and 364 were applied to certain accused. After a detailed trial, the court sentenced Karamjit Singh (then ASI) to three years of RI and a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC Section 120-B read with Section 364 and one year of RI under IPC Section 342; Manjit Singh (then Inspector) to eight years of RI and a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC Section 364, also 5 years of RI and a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC Section 120-B and one year of RI under IPC Section 342; and, Gurmej Singh (then SI) to eight years of RI and a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC Section 364, 5 years of RI and a fine of Rs 50,000 under IPC Section 120-B. The court also directed that compensation be paid to the Class-I legal heirs of the deceased, Palwinder Singh, from the fines collected from the convicted officers. Victim Palwinder Singh's daughter Bhupinder Kaur has, however, expressed her 'dissatisfaction' over the verdict. 'The sentence is too lenient given the severity of the crime,' Bhupinder said, adding that she would move the high court, seeking a harsher punishment for the accused persons. Darshan Singh, father of Palwinder Singh, alias Pappu, had filed a criminal writ petition in 1995, alleging that on the morning of March 27, 1993, ASI Karamjit Singh and other unidentified officers from the Rawalpindi police station under Phagwara tehsil in Kapurthala district, forcibly abducted his son from their home in the presence of family members and villagers. Darshan Singh alleged that Palwinder's whereabouts remained unknown thereafter. The petitioner expressed fear that his son was unlawfully detained or possibly killed in custody. Later, an FIR No. 18 dated April 5, 1993, from Sultanpur Lodhi police station surfaced, stating that Palwinder Singh had been killed in a police encounter the same day. Following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order on September 12, 2005, the CBI took over the investigation and re-registered the case. After an extensive probe, a chargesheet was filed under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture) of the IPC against the five accused police officers.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Kapurthala: Three former cops convicted in 1993 fake encounter case
More than three decades after a fake encounter shook the region, the court of special judge, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mohali, has convicted three retired Punjab Police officials in connection with the abduction and fake encounter of two young men in 1993. Special judge Baljinder Singh Sra sentenced 72-year-old Manjit Singh (then inspector, who retired deputy superintendent of police) and 84-year-old Gurmej Singh (then sub-inspector, who retired inspector) to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each. Karamjit Singh, 70, then assistant sub-inspector, was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹50,000. The court acquitted constables Kashmir Singh and Harjit Singh of all charges. The victims, Palwinder Singh, alias Pappu, and Balbir Singh, were allegedly abducted by the police on March 27, 1993, from their respective villages in Kapurthala district. According to the CBI chargesheet, they were illegally detained for days before being falsely shown as arrested in a theft case. Hours later, police claimed the duo escaped custody and were killed in an encounter with the Sultanpur Lodhi police on April 5, 1993. Their bodies were cremated as unclaimed, and no information was provided to their families. The court, while delivering the verdict, noted that the actual killing was carried out by SI Mohan Singh and ASI Iqbal Singh, both of whom died during the investigation. As a result, no murder charges were framed against the surviving accused. However, the court found the three convicted officials guilty under Sections 364 (abduction), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. 'The abductees, Palwinder Singh and Balbir Singh, were youths between 20 to 26 years of age, eliminated in a fake encounter. The court can very well imagine the plight of their parents and families, who have been running from pillar to post since 1993 to seek justice,' the court observed. The court ordered that the fines collected from the convicts be paid as compensation to the legal heirs of the victims under Section 357(1) of the CrPC. Due to his medical condition, convict Gurmej Singh, who is bedridden, has been directed to be lodged in Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, or Civil Hospital, Patiala, instead of prison. The long road to justice began in 1995, when Darshan Singh, father of Palwinder Singh, filed a habeas corpus petition before the Punjab and Haryana high court for direction to produce his son before the court and after hearing the parties judicial inquiry was entrusted to chief judicial magistrate, Kapurthala. The judicial report dated May 28, 2002, found the encounter doubtful and recommended for independent probe and on the basis of this report, the high court ordered CBI inquiry on September 12, 2005. On October 11, 2005, the CBI had registered the case at Chandigarh against unidentified persons and after completing investigation. The CBI had filed a chargesheet against Karamjit Singh, the then ASI at Rawalpindi police station, Manjit Singh, the then SHO Rawalpindi, Gurmej Singh, then SI of police station Phagwara city, constable Kashmir Singh, constable Harjit Singh of Phagwara citu police station on January 3, 2012. Though charges were framed against accused in 2014, but case was stayed till 2018 by the higher courts on petitions filed by the accused police officials. Not only the accused but the state of Punjab also challenged the orders of the high court ordering a CBI inquiry before the Supreme Court. Advocate Sarabjit Singh Verka, counsel for victims' family, stated that the statements of co-accused and associate police officials played vital role to prove the theory of arrest, escape and then killing of Palwinder Singh, Pappu, and Balbir Singh in an encounter as fake. The court held that the accused acted in unison by entertaining common intention and in furtherance of common intention abducted and illegally confined the victims. The charge under Section 120-B IPC read with Section 364 IPC has been proved against accused Karamjit Singh, Manjit Singh and Gurmej Singh. The substantive charge under Section 364 IPC was not framed against accused Karamjit Singh, accordingly, accused Manjit Singh and Gurmej Singh are held guilty of the offence under Section 364 IPC read with Section 34 IPC. Further, accused Karamjit Singh and Manjit Singh are also held guilty for the offence under Section 342 read with Section 34 IPC. The court held that the factum of elimination of Balbir Singh along with Palwinder Singh in a fake encounter has been proved by the prosecution through other witnesses.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Punjab, the real resistance to nasha rises — from its hinterlands
The Punjabi word ghumand translates to arrogance, but for residents of Ghumandgarh, it's pride of a different kind. While many villages across Punjab grapple with drug menace, Ghumandgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib stands out as a model of resistance, fiercely protective of its youth and community values. 'In Ghumandgarh, ghumand is a vow. We have vowed that our youth will never take to drugs. It's a mission we're united on,' said Palwinder Singh, sarpanch of the 1,700-strong village with 1,100 votes. The panchayat has declared the village nasha-mukt (drug-free). Their declaration comes amid the state-wide Yudh Nasheyan Virudh (War Against Drugs), a campaign intensified by the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government after AAP's defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections in February. On March 1, the state government set up a five-member cabinet committee to monitor the crackdown, with the CM himself holding high-level meetings and directing the police to take coordinated, aggressive action. As part of the campaign, drug hotspots are being mapped, supply chains dismantled, traffickers arrested, and the properties of peddlers bulldozed. Both CM Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav have publicly committed to curbing the menace by May 31. In Ghumandgarh, the village's zero-tolerance policy includes blocking outsiders with 'suspicious credentials' from settling in. Youth are engaged through regular sports—cricket matches nearly every week—and cultural events such as dastar-bandi competitions. 'You won't find a single youth hooked to drugs. The number of them playing practise matches in our playground every evening is proof,' said Manpreet Singh, a resident. The infrastructure speaks: a smart elementary and senior secondary school, a stadium with facilities for five games, an Ayushman Arogya Kendra, veterinary clinic, panchayat ghar and a cooperative society. Public announcements from the village gurdwara spread awareness and flag any suspicious activity. Manpreet, who commutes to Kharar for work daily, said, 'Outside, I see substance abuse everywhere. But coming back to my village each evening feels like returning to an oasis.' No police case — or even a brawl — has been reported in Ghumandgarh in 30 years, said Palwinder, adding that even during the ongoing campaign, police found zero cases of drug addiction. 'That's why we've been declared nasha-mukt. We'll now apply for the Rs 1 lakh grant announced by the CM,' said Palwinder. Owing allegiance to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, he added, 'We decide unanimously to go with the ruling party — it helps get grants.' The grant, he said, will fund a gym and parks. 'We've also sought funds for roads that are in a bad shape.' Navpreet Kaur, a panchayat member, said CCTV cameras have been installed across the village. 'We access them from our phones. If anyone looks suspicious, the sarpanch immediately tells them to return. These attempts have reduced lately. Each panchayat member is assigned a ward to monitor. It's a 24×7 tirade to protect our youth,' she said. The only shortfall is in the number of sports coaches. 'We've hired some from Fatehgarh Sahib city, but it's not enough. We pay them from panchayat funds collected by leasing land. If more coaches come, we can produce athletes. We already have a 400m track,' Palwinder added. The momentum is visible in neighbouring villages too. In Harlalpur, 30 km away, a religious campaign led by woman sarpanch Harjinder Kaur Cheema encourages school children to frequent the gurdwara. 'We create awareness and ask them to stay away from drugs,' said Harjinder, who performs gurbani with other women every afternoon. Her husband, Ranjit Singh Cheema, said youths are asked to perform sewa at the gurdwara every evening to keep them occupied. 'There is a lot of fear of the law now. We get to see our SHO every now and then. IG HS Bhullar and SSP Shubham Aggarwal have also visited us. Peddlers are afraid and drugs are not being sold now,' he said, adding that 50 youths from the village have migrated abroad. Yet, the campaign is not without reminders of its limits. Near Bhajan Singh's house, a pall of silence hangs. His nephew has taken to chitta. 'He has been in a bad shape. I took him to Fatehgarh Sahib hospital. He's on pills now. I don't know what will happen,' he said. Another youth, now deprived of his fix, collapsed from withdrawal and had to be hospitalised. 'He's also on medication,' said Bhajan. In Unchha Jatana village near Khanna, lambardar Bhupinder Singh said police had directed locals not to shelter peddlers fleeing raids. 'They're on the run now. We guard the village round the clock.' Sarpanch Pawanpreet Singh said village heads are part of WhatsApp groups with local MLAs and DSPs. 'Surveys are conducted daily. We've been told to report addicts immediately or face questioning. So we stay alert. We can say we are chitta-mukt but not nasha-mukt yet. Some of our elderly are still on bhukki and opium. The drive is ongoing, the police are vigilant, and panchayats are on their toes. We may not eliminate drugs completely, but if we continue this level of vigilance, we can save our future generations,' he said. AAP has claimed that in its three-year tenure, 6,500 major drug traffickers have been arrested, over 30,000 NDPS cases registered, 10,000 police personnel involved in trafficking transferred, and 100 police officers arrested. The government has also exhorted panchayats to declare themselves drug-free to claim the Rs 1 lakh reward. However, Amrik Singh, a resident of Unchha Jatana, echoed a deeper concern: 'The bulldozing of properties has instilled huge fear. That has helped. But the real mission will be to employ our youth. Many with MA degrees are earning Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. They didn't study this much to earn this. That frustration can become dangerous.' As May 31 approaches, the date by which the state government has vowed to make visible gains, villages like Ghumandgarh and Harlalpur are showing that community ownership—when backed by state action—can lay the foundation for lasting change. But the challenge, say many, lies beyond enforcement. It's in the promise of opportunity.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Accused turned to opium sale after betting loss, say cops
After a 31-year-old man was caught in possession of a large quantity of opium at Ludhiana Junction government railway police (GRP),officials said that he wanted to sell the contraband to recover a loss of over three lakh rupees suffered in an online betting application. The accused, Santosh Singh, was arrested on May 16 with 16 kg of opium,the largest quantity recovered by the department so far. Santosh, a resident of Chatra district in Jharkhand, was caught while attempting to leave the station through an alternate route. According to inspector Palwinder Singh, station house officer (SHO) of the GRP station at Ludhiana Junction, Santosh raised suspicion after he was seen heading towards the Lakkar bridge from platform number 4-5, carrying a large backpack. Initial investigation had revealed that Santosh had been working at an eatery in Bhogpur near Jalandhar. He had returned to his hometown in Jharkhand for Holi and was allegedly transporting the contraband back as he resumed work. Inspector Palwinder Singh said that when Santosh was at his hometown, he got hooked to an online betting app. The addiction ended in a loss of three lakh rupees. To make up for his losses he gathered a huge tranche of opium and set out for Jalandhar. The SHO further claimed that this was not his first attempt. 'He had tried selling around 1kg of opium in December last year. He tried to repeat it but only on a larger scale as he wanted to compensate for the losses incurred in online betting,' said Palwinder Singh. Explaining how the accused sold opium, inspector Singh, said that he would initiate conversations with truck drivers at dhabas and then slip in opium offers and get customers. Inspector Singh said that GRP had checked Santosh's bank transactions to verify his history of betting.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: GRP nabs Jharkhand man with 16kg opium
Ludhiana The Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested a 31-year-old man at Ludhiana Junction on Thursday and seized 16 kilograms of opium from his possession, the largest quantity recovered by the department so far. The accused, Santosh Singh, a resident of Chatra district in Jharkhand, was caught while attempting to leave the station through an alternate route. According to inspector Palwinder Singh, station house officer (SHO) of the GRP station at Ludhiana Junction, Santosh raised suspicion after he was seen heading towards the Lakkar bridge from platform number 4-5, carrying a large backpack. 'He avoided the main exit and tried to slip away quietly. Since he was carrying a big bag, he appeared suspicious to our personnel. When he was stopped and searched, 16kg of opium was recovered from his bag,' said the SHO. Initial investigation revealed that Santosh had been working at an eatery in Bhogpur near Jalandhar. He had returned to his hometown in Jharkhand for Holi and was allegedly transporting the contraband back as he resumed work. The SHO further claimed that this was not his first attempt. 'In December 2024, Santosh had brought 1kg of opium in a similar manner after visiting home,' he said. The GRP is currently analysing his call detail records and bank transactions to trace the network involved in the smuggling. On Friday, Santosh was produced before a magistrate was sent to three-day police remand for further questioning. Inspector Palwinder Singh, who earlier served with the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) of Punjab Police, highlighted that Jharkhand has become a major source of opium entering Punjab in the recent years. 'Most of the recoveries I've made in the past three years have links to Jharkhand. Our investigations suggest that illegal opium cultivation is rampant in Naxal-controlled areas there,' he added. A probe into the case is underway.
