Ravi Khwajke murder case: Moga man Avtar Singh 'Tari' gets life imprisonment

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 11

Additional Sessions Judge Ravdeep Hundal has convicted Avtar Singh, alias Tari, resident of Dausanjh village, Moga, on the accusations of launching murderous attack on Balwinder Singh and killing student leader-turned ex-Congress sarpanch Rajwinder Singh, alias Ravi Khwajke, in Feburary 2016 at a wedding in Gill’s Garden Resorts, Gill village, by firing shots.

He was ordered to undergo rigorous life imprisonment. A fine of Rs 1,60,00 was also imposed on the convict.

However, the court acquitted the alleged conspirator gangster Dharminder Gugni, his aides Kirpal Singh, resident of Talwandi Bhangeria, and Navpreet Singh Novi by giving them benefit of doubt.

Divulging details, defence lawyer Amit Agnihotri said the prosecution examined 16 witnesses in the case. But the prosecution failed to prove the allegations levelled against Dharminder Gugni and Kirpal Singh as they were lodged in jail at the time of murder.

He said three accused, Davinder Singh Bambiha, Kamaljit Singh Bunty and Jaspreet Singh Jumpy, have already died in different police encounters. One accused Sukhchain Singh, alias Gopi, who was arrested from Malaysia at a later stage, is facing a separate trial.

A case was registered on Feburary 20, 2016, at the Sadar police station following the statement of Harpal Singh Nambardar, uncle of deceased.

He had stated to the police that he along with Ravi had to attend a marriage ceremony. It was about 5.30 pm, when his nephew Rajwinder Singh was going out of the palace to see off his friend Balwinder Singh. Suddenly, Davinder Singh, alias Shooter, alias Davinder Bambiha, Avtar Singh, alias Tari, Jaspreet Singh, alias Jumpi Don, and Kamaljit Singh, alias Bunti, came there and started firing bullets which hit Ravi and Balwinder Singh and they fell on the ground.

Accused continued firing and stated to have fired around 50 shots. They were seen dancing after the murder in a CCTV footage. Injured were taken to hospital. Ravi died after reaching DMC Hospital, but other survived.

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