3 ex-cops get life term in 1992 fake encounter case

A special CBI court today sentenced three former cops to life imprisonment in a case of kidnapping and fake encounter.

The court also imposed a fine and compensation of Rs 2 lakh each on the convicts — Gurbachan Singh, former SHO

of Tarn Taran police station, Sub-Inspector Resham Singh and Sub-Inspector Hans Raj — in the 1992 case of kidnapping and fake encounter of Tarn Taran former constable Jagdeep Singh, alias Makhan, and Gurnam Singh, alias

Pali, a Home Guard. Arjun Singh, a co-accused, had died during the trial.

The court held Gurbachan Singh, who retired as DSP, guilty under Sections 302, 364, 343 and 218 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Resham Singh, who retired as inspector, and retired SI Hans Raj were convicted under Sections 302 and 120-B, read with Section 218, of the IPC. The accused have been asked to pay compensation of Rs 2 lakhs each to the families of deceased.

Public Prosecutor Anmol Narang for the CBI said the fake encounter took place on November 30, 1992.

Complainants Pritam Singh, who is Makhan’s father, and Kartar Kaur, Pali’s mother, recorded their statements on November 21, 1996. The CBI had registered a case on February 27, 1997, and filed a chargesheet on January 19, 2000. It stated that Jagdeep Singh was abducted by the police from his in-laws’ house on November 18, 1992, after his mother-in-law Savinder Kaur was killed as the police opened fire to open the door of the house. Cops later claimed that she was killed by Jagdeep and militants. Gurnam Singh was abducted by the police on November 21, 1992, from his home.

Both were killed on November 30, 1992, and a case was registered in this regard by SHO Gurbachan Singh.

In 2016, the CBI court had framed the charges of criminal conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, wrongful confinement and preparing incorrect records against the accused.