3 retired cops convicted in fake encounter case

A sessions court today awarded five years imprisonment to three retired cops, including a former Deputy Inspector General of police, in connection with a fake encounter case of 1989.
Additional Sessions Judge Poonam Ratti Joshi convicted Savtantar Pal Singh Basra, DIG (Retd), Jaspal Singh, DSP (Retd) and Sita Ram, Sub Inspector (Retd) under various sections of the IPC.
The court sentenced the accused to five years imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 1.30 lakh each on all of them.
According to the prosecution, during the period of militancy, the culprits had abducted Kuljit Singh, son of Sadhu Singh of village Amballa Jattan, alongwith three other villagers Surjit Singh, Kuldip Singh and Gurmail Singh from the house of latter on July 23, 1989 for their alleged involvement in militancy activities.

During the interrogation, Kuljit Singh allegedly died due to severe torture.
Later, a case was registered in Tanda police station in this district in which it was stated that handcuffed Kuljit Singh jumped into the river Beas while he was taken to a site near the river for recovery of arms and disappeared.

The other persons who were taken into custody alongwith Kuljit Singh were let off.
Later, deceased Kuljit Singh's wife Gurmeet Kaur moved to the Supreme Court which constituted a judicial inquiry into the disappearance of Kuljit Singh in 1990.
In his inquiry report in 1993, the Commission headed by Judge (Retd) H L Randev, held Basra, Jaspal Singh, Sita Ram, DSP Ajit Singh and Inspector Sardool Singh responsible for the disappearance of Kuljit Singh.

Later, a case under section 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 218 (public servant framing incorrect record) of the IPC was registered against all the accused.
Ajit Singh and Sardool Singh died during the trial.
Talking to mediapersons outside the court, Gurmeet Kaur showed her dissatisfaction over the punishment awarded to the culprits.
She said "though justice had been done but it was not a complete justice. The culprits had ruined her life and she would move in the High Court against the judgment".