Two ex-cops convicted in 26-yr-old abduction case

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 18

In a 26-year-old case of abduction and disappearance of a Patiala youth, the CBI special court here today awarded six-year sentence to a retired inspector and one-year term to a ex-constable of the Punjab Police.

The court pronounced six-year term to retired Inspector Joginder Singh under Section 365 (kidnapping) and two years under Section 344 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC. A fine of Rs 25,000 has also been imposed on the convict.

Meanwhile, ex-Constable Jagjit Singh has been convicted for a year under Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence on giving false information) and 212 of the IPC. Jagjit, however, was later released on probation with a surety of Rs 10,000.

The victim, Gurinder Singh, was in his 20s when he was picked up by the police.

In its order, the court held that Joginder Singh, the then incharge of the Patiala police station, was required to act as per law but he not only abducted Gurinder but also kept him in illegal custody.

The case

The CBI, in its chargesheet, stated that on March 26, 1993, Inspector Joginder Singh and other policemen, including ASIs Sham Lal and Hazoor Singh, had picked up Balwinder Singh, Gurinder Singh’s elder brother, from his house.

On April 2, the cops again went to Balwinder’s house and asked his father Dharam Singh to produce Gurinder if he wanted his elder son back. The next day, Gurinder was taken into custody when he went to the police.

On April 20, Dharam’s other son Gurnam Singh was also booked under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. A recovery of .12 bore pistol along with two live cartridges from him was also shown by the police.

On April 22, Gurinder was taken out of the lock-up on the pretext of recovering some more arms and ammunition. Later, the police claimed that he escaped from their custody that night.