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‘Don't run, they'll shoot you': Brother recalls last words before cops took Surmukh to his death
‘Don't run, they'll shoot you': Brother recalls last words before cops took Surmukh to his death

Time of India

time6 days ago

  • Time of India

‘Don't run, they'll shoot you': Brother recalls last words before cops took Surmukh to his death

1 2 Amritsar: A CBI court's order to sentence a former SP to 10 years in prison for killing two constables in a staged encounter on April 18, 1993, has stirred up painful memories for Kashmir Singh, whose elder brother, Surmukh Singh, was one of the victims. Sitting at his home in Mucchal village, 30km from here, Kashmir remembered how his brother saved his life when he saw him the last time. He, however, was of the view that the court's verdict was too lenient and three other personnel, who were acquitted, too should have been held accountable. "On that fateful day, a police team arrived at our home and picked up Surmukh. When I questioned why he was being taken away, they misbehaved with me. When I insisted, they grabbed me by the legs, bundled me into their vehicle, and drove off," he said. The CBI court in Mohali handed down the 10-year sentence to retired SP Paramjit Singh, the SHO of Beas police station in 1993, on Wednesday. Kashmir said after traveling a short distance, the cops stopped the vehicle and told him to get down and run. "But Surmukh, who was tightly held by the police, called out to me: 'Don't run; if you run, they will shoot you'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo I did not move a step. The police then drove off with my brother. That's how he saved my life," Kashmir added. The court acquitted former inspector Dharam Singh (77), the then SHO of Lopoke police station; and ASIs Kashmir Singh (79) and Darbara Singh (71), citing lack of evidence. Kashmir sought capital punishment for the guilty policeman. Surmukh's son, Charanjit Singh, who was not even born when his father was killed and who was present in court when the former SP was sentenced to 10 years in prison, vowed not to stop till everyone was brought to book. "The sentence is too less for the crime they committed. I will not stop here. I will move to a higher court," he added. Though Charanjit had been recruited as a Punjab Police officer in 2012, he was never recruited as he had been tagged "son of a terrorist". He now works as a private driver, earning Rs 9,000 a month. Charanjit, a father of two, demanded the govt issue his appointment letter, along with compensation and job-related benefits for the 13 years he was unable to join the service. An acquaintance of Surmukh and resident of Muchhal village, Balbir Singh Muchhal said 10 years was nothing. "When those entrusted with the law break it, their punishment should reflect the gravity of that betrayal," he added.

Justice after 32 years: Ex-SP gets 10-yrs' jail for fake encounter-killing of 2 cops in Punjab
Justice after 32 years: Ex-SP gets 10-yrs' jail for fake encounter-killing of 2 cops in Punjab

Time of India

time23-07-2025

  • Time of India

Justice after 32 years: Ex-SP gets 10-yrs' jail for fake encounter-killing of 2 cops in Punjab

Mohali: A former Punjab Police SP was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing two constables in cold blood in a staged encounter in 1993. Hearing the verdict in the courtroom was a 32-year-old man — the son of one of the victims — who became fatherless even before he was born. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Constables Surmukh Singh, 26, and Sukhwinder Singh, 20, were picked up from their homes on April 18, 1993, illegally detained, and later declared as 'unidentified militants killed in an encounter' by Majitha police. Their bodies were cremated as unclaimed. The convict, Paramjit Singh, then SHO of Beas and later SP, is now 67 years old. On Wednesday, CBI Special Judge Baljinder Singh Sra held him guilty of abducting and killing the constables. He has been fined Rs 50,000 as well. For Charanjit Singh — Surmukh's son — it was a powerful moment of reckoning. And for families that have waited decades for justice in such cases, it's a reminder that accountability, though long in coming, is still within reach. Charanjit not only had to grow up without a father, but he was also haunted by the stigma that was falsely smeared on Surmukh. Charanjit was only 20 years old when he cleared the exam to be a Punjab Police officer but his police verification report tagged him "the son of a terrorist killed in an encounter", and his selection was withdrawn. Now, he works as a private driver and earns Rs 9,000 a month. This case is part of a larger probe into mass illegal cremations and custodial killings in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s. CBI's investigation, conducted on orders of the Supreme Court, revealed a chilling chain of events: Surmukh of Muchhal village and Sukhwinder of Khiala were picked up from their homes by police parties led by Paramjit Singh and then ASI Ram Lubhaya on April 18, 1993. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On April 19, their families were denied access to the detained men at Beas police station. Three days later, Majitha police claimed to have gunned down two unidentified militants in an encounter at Lopoke and cremated their bodies as "unclaimed." A week later, an "untraced" report was filed, falsely stating there was no clue to the identities of the deceased and no need for further investigation. CBI later proved the encounter was staged. It said the victims were killed in cold blood, and police records and documents were falsified to cover up the crime. The motive for the staged killing wasn't part of the court order, but sources say it was allegedly spurred by personal vendetta. Speaking outside court, Sarabjit Singh Verka, counsel for the victim families, said: "Though delayed by over three decades, this judgment reinforces the hope that justice is possible even against powerful state machinery. The two constables were picked up in a scooter theft case as the SHO suspected them. However, during the trial, the scooter owner deposed that he had never got any FIR registered for his scooter theft. Yet, the two constables were picked up, killed and later tagged as terrorists killed in an encounter." The judge, acknowledging the prolonged trauma and struggle of the victim families, observed: "The court can very well imagine the plight of the parents and family members who have been running from pillar to post since 1993 in their quest for justice. They must have incurred huge expenses in the legal battle and deserve monetary compensation." The judge recommended compensation to the victims' families under Section 357-A CrPC. While Paramjit Singh was convicted, co-accused Dharam Singh, 77, (the inspector), and ex-ASIs Darbara Singh, 71, and Kashmir Singh, 69, were acquitted due to lack of evidence. Another accused, ex-ASI Ram Lubhaya died in 2002. The case saw extraordinary delays. Many witnesses died during this prolonged period, and some turned hostile. Ultimately, only 27 witnesses could be examined. CBI public prosecutor Anmol Narang led the prosecution, assisted by advocates Sarabjit Singh Verka, Pushpinder Singh Natt, and Jagjit Singh. Advocate K S Nagra appeared for the accused officers.

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