Kharkoo Singhs do it again

[Mehtab Singh]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040826/...6/punjab1.htm#6

Militant’s escape: seven placed under suspension

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Logically illogical

Gursewak Singh's escape from custody at this stage has baffled senior Punjab Police officers. Initially booked by the police in approximately 40 cases, Gursewak Singh had been acquitted in at least 30. Chances of his acquittal in other cases due to want of evidence were "quite high".

Otherwise also, he had spent almost 15 years behind bars. He would have been probably released in the rest of the cases even if the courts had convicted him as he would have undergone the punishment. "It is completely illogical," a senior officer said. "We are looking into it".

Chandigarh, August 25

In less than 48 hours after an alleged militant taken to Delhi in connection with a court case escaped from the custody of the Punjab Police, seven personnel escorting him were today placed under suspension. A massive man-hunt has also been launched. "Militant" Gursewak Singh was lodged in high-security Nabha jail before his escape.

A first information report (FIR) under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has also been registered in the matter at the S

abzi Mandi police station in Delhi.

The sources in the Punjab Police headquarters here revealed that the officials placed under suspension with immediate effect included two Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs), two head constables (HCs) and as many number of constables.

Giving details, the sources said the suspended officials were ASIs Karnail Singh and Ramesh Kumar, besides HCs Raj Kumar and Jaspal Singh, along with constables Gurinder Pal and Surinder Singh. C II Bhupinder Singh was also placed under suspension. The orders were reportedly issued through Patiala's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) A.S. Rai.

Gursewak Singh, reportedly belonging to the Babbar Khalsa International, escaped from police custody on the excuse of easing himself after getting out of the police vehicle on Monday evening.

He was taken to Sabzi Mandi police station after being produced before a court in connection with a case registered at Punjabi Bagh police station in 1998. The cops accompanying him took him to a hospital at around 9 pm after he complained of chest pain. On his way back, the accused escaped on the pretext of answering the nature's call. Even though the incident occurred on the evening of August 23, the cops at Delhi were not informed about the escape till Tuesday afternoon.

The sources in the Prisons Department of the Punjab Police, meanwhile, claimed that so far they had not received any report from the officers concerned regarding the incident. They added that necessary action would be taken only after the papers were handed over to them.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040826/.../punjab1.htm#25

Police teams in Delhi to nab militant

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 25

The Patiala police today deputed five teams to conduct raids at different places in Delhi and Punjab to

nab militant Gursewak Singh, alias Babla, who gave the slip to a Patiala police team which had taken him to Delhi to appear in a court on August 22.

According to police sources, a case had been registered against the cops who had taken him to the Sabji Mandi police station in Delhi, under Section 224 of the IPC. The team was led by ASI Karnail Singh and included constables Bhupinder Singh, Gurinderpal Singh and Baldev Singh. The team’s in charge ASI Karnail Singh was replaced by ASI Ramesh Kumar when the former complained that he was not feeling well after the three days stay in Delhi. However the militant escaped before Ramesh Kumar could reach Delhi. The Patiala police has also initiated disciplinary action in this regard.

The sources said the five teams had been sent to places in Delhi as well as Babla’s native village in Raikot. Jassa Singh, CIA Staff Inspector, was immediately sent to Delhi after the case came to light yesterday.