Police could have averted Congress sarpanch’s killing
Mohit Khanna
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, February 23
Davinder Singh, alias Davinder Shooter, and Navdeep Singh Cheema, the two prime accused who shot dead Congress Sarpanch Ravi Khwajke, have yet again made a mockery of the justice system.
While Davinder shooter faces a number of criminal cases, including escaping from police custody, Navpreet was arrested in January with seven illegal pistols. How both criminals got bail so soon and managed to perpetrate another crime even though the police were aware of their motive leaves one baffled.
Davinder Shooter, a resident of Babhiya village in Moga district, is facing more than 12 criminal cases, including murder. Davinder and his accomplices were arrested with weapons by the Faridkot police in 2013. A few years ago, Davinder escaped from the custody of the Moga police by throwing chilli powder into the eyes of jail staff.
In 2014, he was arrested by the Faridkot police following a hot chase from Ludhiana. He had even opened fire at a police team. During the time of his arrest, it was stated that Davinder would be jailed for a long period.
However, he was released on bail a few months after his arrest. Sources said Davinder Shooter had also threatened a Judge in the court room.
Davinder’s Facebook profile also mocks at the police. In August last year, he uploaded the news of his arrest on his Facebook account and takes pride in calling himself an outlaw.
Such is Davinder’s terror that in December lastyear, high alert was sounded in Ludhiana after the police got information of him visiting the city to commit some crime.
Meanwhile, Navpreet Singh Cheema was also arrested by the Division No. 6 police recently along with an arms supplier.
As many as seven highly mechanised pistols were recovered from his possession.
However, Navdeep too got bail within a few days after his arrest. Sources said during the probe, the police had got concrete information that the weapons were ordered by Dharminder Singh Guggni, Jassi, brother of the slain gangster Kala Hawas, to kill Ravi Khwajke. But the police took
no step to foil their killing plan.
Ravi and his brother Sandeep Khwajke were facing charges for murdering Kala Hawas and Jassi wanted to avenge his brother’s killing. Recently, Ravi had got clean chit in the murder case, which rattled Jassi.
Senior criminal lawyer Dalip Batish blames the police for weak presentation of cases which often helps the accused in getting bail.
“The police wash its hand of most cases by merely imposing a few sections of the Arms Act and never try to find the people who had provided illegal weapons to such criminals. So, it becomes really easy for these criminals to get bail,” said Dalip Batish.
He added recently the government launched a drive against drug peddlers and the police officer in order to impress their seniors picked up poor drug addicts who should ideally be at the rehabilitation homes.
“These addicts are still languishing in jail and have become a headache for the prison staff. Notorious gangsters get bail from court within a few days after their arrest with the help of lawyers,” said Dalip Batish.
