Three ex-cops convicted in 1993 fake encounter case

The court can imagine the plight of their families, who have been running from pillar to post since 1993 to seek justice. CBI COURT, MOHALI

- Aneesha Sareen Kumar

MOHALI: More than three decades after a fake encounter shook the region, the court of special judge, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Mohali, has convicted three retired Punjab Police officials in connection with the abduction and fake encounter of two young men in 1993.

Special judge Baljinder Singh Sra sentenced 72-year-old Manjit Singh (then inspector, who retired deputy superintendent of police) and 84-year-old Gurmej Singh (then sub-inspector, who retired inspector) to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each. Karamjit Singh, 70, then assistant sub-inspector, was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹250,000. The court acquitted constables Kashmir Singh and Harjit Singh of all charges.

The victims, Palwinder Singh, alias Pappu, and Balbir Singh, were allegedly abducted by the police on March 27, 1993, from their respective villages in Kapurthala district.

According to the CBI chargesheet, they were illegally detained for days before being falsely shown as arrested in a theft case. Hours later, police claimed the duo escaped custody and were killed in an encounter with the Sultanpur Lodhi police on April 5, 1993. Their bodies were cremated as unclaimed, and no information was provided to their families.