30 yrs after two killed in fake encounter, court holds two Punjab ex-cops guilty of murder

It was claimed by the Tarn Taran police that at on April 15 1993, three militants attacked a police party, which was taking Harbans Singh, who was in their custody, for recovery of arms and ammunition from the area of Chambal drain. The pol;ice claimed that during cross firing Harbans Singh and one unidentified militant was killed. A case under Sections 302, 307 (attempt to murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC, Arms Act and section 5 of TADA Act was registered against unknown militants at Tarn Taran (sadar) police station.

Following a complaint by Harbans Singh’s brother Paramjit Singh, CBI conducted an investigation and found holes in the police encounter theory. On the basis of this enquiry, the CBI, on January 25, 1999, registered a regular case against the police officials under Section 34, 364, 302 of the IPC.

The CBI filed the chargesheet on January 8, 2002 for the offence punishable under Section 120-B read with Sections 302 and 218 of IPC against accused SHO Puran Singh, S-I Shamsher Singh, ASIs Jagir Singh and Jagtar Singh, all then posted at Tarn Taran (sadar) police station. Charges were framed against them on December 13, 2002 by the CBI court but trial remained stayed from 2006 to 2022 on orders of higher courts during which accused Puran Singh and Jagir Singh died. In this case 17 witness recorded their statements before the trial court and finally after about 30 years, the case was decided.