Hoshiarpur: Convicted of murder, man gets RI for life, to pay Rs 25,000 fine

Hoshiarpur, February 12

The court of District and Sessions Judge Dilbagh Singh Johal convicted a murder accused Surjit Singh, alias Seeta, and sentenced him under Section 302 of the IPC to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for life and pay a fine of Rs 20,000. In default of payment of fine he would have to further undergo RI for six months. Also under Section 201 of the IPC Surjit was sentenced to undergo RI for three years and pay a fine of Rs 5,000. In default of payment of fine, he would have to further undergo two months RI.

A case was registered at the Dasuya police station on May 31, 2022, Inspector Bikramjit Singh, SHO, the investigating officer (IO) of the case, was on patrol duty at Adda Randhawa. Satnam Singh, a resident of Kalaran village, was with him. He told the SHO that on May 26 Surjit Singh, alias Seeta, a resident of Kalaran village, came to their house and asked his brother Om Parkash to take him along for doing labour work. Om Parkash took Surjit to work at Dasuya the same day. Thereafter, Om Parkash did not return home. However, Surjit came back to the village. Santosh Kumari, mother of the complainant, inquired from Surjit about Om Parkash. He told her that Om Parkash had gone with mason. Om Parkash did not return home even the next day. Om’s family started searching for him, but failed to find him. After three days, Surjit also left his house. His neighbours told village sarpanch Paramjit Singh that Surjit had fled from his house. They said foul smell was emanating from the septic tank in his house. The residents of the area in the presence of Paramjit lifted the lid of the septic tank at Surjit’s house and found a dead body in it.

Om Parkash’s mother also reached the spot. With the help of residents, septic tank was dismantled and dead body was taken out. On cleaning the body, it was found to be of Om Parkash. On getting information, the police registered a case and arrested Surjit Singh, alias Seeta, on June 1, 2022. During interrogation, Surjit disclosed that he used a wooden handle of a spade to kill Om Parkash.

Surjit told the police that after doing labour work on May 26 at Dasuya, he and Om Parkash came back to his house at Kalaran village. Surjit said he owed some money to Om Parkash. Both had a quarrel over money. In a fit of rage, Surjit picked up handle of the spade and hit Om Parkash on left side of his head and nose after which he lost consciousness. Later, he threw Om Parkash in the septic tank at his house and closed its lid.

After hearing arguments of both sides, the court in its judgement held the accused guilty of murder and passed the sentence.

Hit victim with spade handle

Accused Surjit Singh told the police that he owed some money to Om Parkash. There was a quarrel between them. In a fit of rage, Surjit picked up handle of the spade and hit Om Parkash on left side of his head and nose after which he lost consciousness. Later, he threw Om Parkash in the septic tank at his house and closed its lid.