Ludhaina, Punjab (August 20, 2014): “Though he was able to get mercy for himself from the Punjab government, he had showed no mercy while shooting our innocent son”, said parents of Avtar Singh Gola, after hearing news of premature release of infamous cop Gurmeet Singh Pinky. The Ludhiana couple whose only son was killed by police cat turned cop, Gurmeet Pinky, expressed disappointment over early release of killer of their son.
“When I was trying to save my son, even I was shot at by Pinky’s men and I had sustained injuries” recollected deceased Avtar Singh’s father.
“Even at that time, the then ‘Akali’ government had protected Gurmeet Pinky and now they have released him after remitting the sentence awarded to him by the court”, said Amrik Singh, father of deceased Avtar Singh Gola.
He said that Gurmeet Pinky was supposed to serve at least 4 years, 4 months and 16 days more in prison, but the Badal Government went out of the way to get him released from Nabha jail.
Avtar Singh Gola’s father Amrik Singh and mother Charanjit Kaur recollected with tears, the incident of 7 January 2001 when their son went out at around 8pm to buy flowers from a nearby shop for a Kirtan program and was shot dead by Gurmeet Pinky. Inspector Gurmeet Pinky had blocked the street and Avtar Singh Gola urged him for the pass-way. Irritated Gurmeet Pinky, along with his men, started beating Avtar Singh.
Amrik Singh, Avtar’s father, tried to save his son but Gurmeet Pinky shot at Avtar Singh with his pistol. Avtar Singh Gola died in this incident while his father got gun-shot injuries.
Avtar was only son of the elderly couple and only brother of three elder sisters.
Amrik Singh alleged that Gurmeet Pinky was close associate of Punjab DGP Sumedh Saini and he was being provided special treatment in Nabha jail. “As per information collected by Right to Information Act Gurmeet Pinky spent 173 days on parole and furlough”, said Amrik Singh.
He said that Gurmeet Pinky has not even deposited the fine levied upon him by the trial court.
Amrik Singh said that he would challenge the government’s decision in the High Court.