Ropar, Punjab (June 04, 2014): In a fake encounter case of Sikh youth Kuldeep Singh from Amrali village in 1991, a Ropar (rup Nagar) court on June 03 framed charges against Punjab director general of Police (DGP) SK Sharma and three other former police officers.
As per case details reported by Hindustan Times, Rupnagar sessions court judge Amarjot Bhatti framed charges under section 364 (Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), 302 (murder), 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender), 120-B ( Criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code(IPC) against then station house officer (SHO) of Morinda, SK Sharma; then deputy inspector general (retd) Balkar Singh, retd police officer SPS Basra, assistant sub inspector (retd) Gurcharan Singh.
Kuldip’s father, Ajaib Singh was fighting for justice for last 24 years. He had alleged that his son, aged 21 and a student of Punjabi University, was picked up by the police on October 24, 1990 from Krishna Mandi area of Morinda town where he along with his cousin sister, Jasbir Kaur, had gone to buy medicines. Kuldeep went missing from that day.
On May 15, 1991, Ajaib Singh read newspaper reports regarding the statement issued on behalf of SK Sharma that one Kuldip of Amrali village, falling under the Morinda police station, was wanted in many cases of extortion, robbery and dacoity and was killed in an encounter on May 1 at village Tholiwal under Barnala Police station.
Ajaib Singh then approached the authorities for justice, but to no avail. Finally, a case was registered under Section 364 and 34 Indian Penal Code(IPC) on August 13, 1998 at Morinda Police Station.
However, after investigations police filed cancellation report in the court but Ajaib Singh dissented with the same and filed protest petition in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Rupnagar. On the protest petition, which was treated as complaint, the court summoned SK Sharma and other accused under section 364, 34 of IPC vide its order passed on August 28, 2010.
The court has fixed July 14 as next date of hearing for recording of evidence in the case.
The court also granted anticipatory bail to the accused SK Sharma, Balkar Singh and Gurcharan Singh under section 302, 201, 120-B of the IPC. They were already on bail in other sections. All the accused were present in the court on June 03.
The accused SPS Basra was brought from Patiala Jail, here he is undergoing punishment in the Kuljit Singh Dhatt fake encounter case.
NOTE: Previously, in above news the name of DGP Suresh Arora was mistakenly published in the headline instead of Satish Sharma. We are regretful to all concerned who might have been affected because of that unintentional mistake. We are thankful to those readers who have brought the mistake to our notice. – SSN.