CHANDIGARH: Manjinder Singh alias Don, one of the suspects in Katia case attempted suicide on the night of September 13, when he was lodged in the Seonk special jail (Forest Rest House), sources disclosed.
Manjinder Singh, who is a close associate of Gurkirat Singh, grandson of the Punjab Chief Minister, Beant Singh, is also related to a senior Akali leader. He is among the seven accused of allegedly kidnapping and molesting a French tourist, Katia, last week.
Don reportedly tried to hang himself with a bed sheet However; the attempt was noticed just before he could slip the noose around his neck. The jail authorities immediately posted a special guard with him to ensure that he did not repeat the act.
According to sources, Manjinder Singh has been in a very depressed state of mind, particularly after the identification parade held at Burnail Jail in which Katia identified him and two other suspects. Now he is being provided medical support and has been put on tranquilizers.
Meanwhile, it is learned that James, Phillips and Khalistan had failed to identify Gurkirat Singh and six other accused during an identification parade organized at Patiala Central Jail, last week. When contacted, James, who was a host to the French tourist Katia categorically stated, on Scpt.17, that, “there was no question of my not recognizing the accused had they been produced before me on Thursday.”
A visibly angry James wanted to know why he was not allowed to participate in the identification parade heldonSept.12in the Burail jail under the supervision of the Chandigarh District and Sessions Judge, M.S.Lubaria. This, he said, “explains” the motives of “whoever was concerned with investigating the case and bringing the truth out. He added, “I have nothing more to say…, it is not my country and let not my peace be disturbed with whatever is going on.”
He dubbed the talk of them not having deliberately recognized the accused as “nonsense.”
Article extracted from this publication >> September 23, 1994
