Kashmir: Sentencing in Surankote fake encounter case
Ashok Agrwaal
GREATER KASHMIR
SRINAGAR, TUESDAY, 14 RABI-AL-AWWAL 1433 AH ; 07 FEBRUARY 2012 CE
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Feb/7/sp-pso-get-life-term-71.asp
SP, PSO get life term
KILLING OF SI IN FAKE ENCOUNTER
Jammu, Feb
6: A local court Monday sentenced a Superintendent of Police (SP) and his
Personal Security Officer (PSO) – convicted last week - to life for killing a
probationary Sub-Inspector in a fake encounter in Surankote area of border
district of Poonch.
The then SP (Operations) Sewak Singh and PSO Sat Pal Singh alias TT were facing
murder trial for killing SI Ajay Gupta. The trial was on for the last around 14
years and the accused were held guilty by the court last week.
Second Additional Sessions Judge Jammu Subash C Gupta, while awarding life
sentence observed that the murder seems to be outcome of the criminal
conspiracy hatched by the accused.
Court, however, clarified that sentence as imposed shall not be executed till
its confirmation by the High Court.
THE CASE
The Sub-Inspector was killed under a well planned conspiracy after the deceased
and the convict exchanged blows over an issue prior to the incident. The
accused, however, managed to get the incident reported as an encounter.
The then SHO, Police Station Surankote Jagjit Singh registered an FIR no. 172
of 1998, for commission of offences under sections 302, 120-B, 121,122 RPC,
7/25, 26, 27 Arms Act and Section 3 EAO, on the basis of the written report
lodged by Sewak Singh, In-charge SP (OPS) Surankote on October 13, 1998.
The complainant stated that SI Ajay Gupta along with Muhammad Akram driver,
constable Satpal Singh and Abdul Razak bodyguards were returning from
patrolling duty when they were ambushed by the militants leading to the death
of SI.
However, the SHO proceeded on leave and the investigation was taken up by the
Inspector V P Samyal. The investigation of this case was transferred to Crime
Branch Jammu and it was ascertained that the deceased was killed under a
planned conspiracy.
Sewak Singh, SP (Ops) and SI Ajay Gupta had a scuffle in the month of August
1998, at Surankote and both of them had threatened to kill each other, the
investigation revealed. It added that on the fateful night of October 13, 1998
accused Sewak Singh had thrown a party, which was also attended by CO and 2/ IC
of 27 RR.
A local contractor Abdul Khaliq requested Sewak Singh to drop him at his
residence but the accused asked SI Ajay Gupta, driver Muhammad Akram, constable
Abdul Razaq and accused constable Satpal Singh to drop him.
On their return, Satpal Singh sat on the rear seat behind SI Ajay Gupta. While
passing near TCP crossing, a shot was fired from inside the Gypsy leading to on
the spot death of the SI. As the accused denied having fired, he suddenly
jumped out of the vehicle and fired more shots in air. However, he was
overpowered by Abdul Razaq and by the personnel of the nearby patrolling party
of 83 battalion of CRPF and his weapon was seized.
At the time of the incident the deceased was in civil dress but the accused SP
directed Chander Parkash and Muhammad Saleem, (PWs) to put the uniform on the
body of Ajay Gupta.
The matter was reported to the police as an encounter and the police personnel
were asked to give false account of the incident. It has come on record that a
false FIR was registered and a false report was entered in daily diary of SOG.
It has been revealed during the investigation that immediately after the
incident, Duty Officer in P/S Surankote, Muhammad Niaz Manhas ASI, reported to
SHO Jagjit Singh, who in turn, conveyed to SP Poonch that constable Satpal
Singh ( accused no.2) has killed SI Ajay Gupta at TCP crossing.
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST
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Ashok Agrwaal
56 Todar Mal Road
New Delhi-110001
Tel: 91 11 23714531(o)
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