1993 Fake Encounter Case: 3 Former Cops Sentenced to Imprisonment
In a landmark judgment, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court has sentenced three former police officials to imprisonment and fines in a 1993 fake encounter case involving two Phagwara youths. The case, which has been pending for nearly three decades, has finally seen justice being served, albeit belatedly.
The three former police officials, who were found guilty of staging a fake encounter, have been sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment. Former Rawalpindi SHO Manjit Singh has been sentenced to 8 years of rigorous imprisonment, while ASI Karamjit Singh and Phagwara City SHO Gurmej Singh have been sentenced to 3 years and 8 years of imprisonment, respectively.
The case dates back to July 1993, when two youths, Rajinder Singh and Balwinder Singh, were allegedly involved in a robbery in Phagwara. The police, in a botched operation, claimed to have shot dead the two youths in an encounter. However, the families of the deceased youths and human rights activists had always maintained that the encounter was staged and that the youths were actually killed in cold blood by the police.
The CBI had taken up the case in 2011 and conducted a thorough investigation, which led to the arrest of the three former police officials in 2017. The investigation revealed that the police had conspired to kill the two youths and stage a fake encounter to cover up their own lapses.
The court heard the case for several years and finally delivered its verdict on July 12, 2022. The verdict has been widely welcomed by the families of the deceased youths and human rights activists, who had been fighting for justice for nearly three decades.
“This verdict is a major victory for us. We have been fighting for justice for our sons for nearly 30 years, and finally, the court has acknowledged that they were killed in a fake encounter,” said Jaswinder Kaur, the mother of Rajinder Singh.
The case highlights the need for accountability in the police force and the importance of upholding the rule of law. Fake encounters and extra-judicial killings are a serious violation of human rights and can have devastating consequences for the victims and their families.
The CBI investigation and the subsequent trial have set a precedent for the investigation and prosecution of similar cases in the future. It is essential that the police and other law enforcement agencies are held accountable for their actions and that those who are found guilty of violating human rights are punished accordingly.
In conclusion, the sentencing of the three former police officials to imprisonment is a significant step towards justice being served in the 1993 fake encounter case. The verdict is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of upholding the rule of law. It is essential that we continue to push for accountability and transparency in the police force and that those who are found guilty of human rights violations are brought to justice.
