NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court last week asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the kidnapping of two advocates from the Punjab missing for four years and three years respectively and submit a report within four months. Justices Kuldip Singh and Venkatchala were issuing orders on a petition to the Chief Justice dated May 29, 1994 by Navkiran Singh and 16 advocates practicing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and in other courts of the State, voicing concern over the kidnapping and “elimination of advocates in the State.

The petition said Ranbir Singh Mahasia, an advocate from Bhatinda, was “kidnapped” by the Punjab Police three years ago and eliminated, though the Police are taking the stand that his whereabouts were unknown. Thereafter, Jagwinder Singh, an advocate from Kapurthala was taken away by Punjab Police and possibly done to death, it was alleged.

In the beginning of 1993, Kulwant Singh, an advocate from Ropar, his wife, and their one and a half year old son were kidnapped by the Ropar Police, it was alleged. The police claimed that they were killed by militants.

Sukhwinder Singh Bhatt, an advocate of Sangrur, was seized by plainclothesmen on May 2 last year and his whereabouts are unknown till date. The two Apex Count judges said that in response to notices issued by them in November an affidavit has been filed by the State, They added that regarding Kulwant Singh and his family’s disappearance and the kid napping of Sukhwinder Singh, CBI inquiries had been ordered by them and the Punjab and Haryana High

Court respectively.

The judges said that Jagwinder Singh alias Happy was allegedly kidnapped on September 25,1993, They said that the Rajesh Police said he could not be traced and this report was accepted by the Magistrate concerned on September 8, 1993. Regarding Ranbir Singh Mahasia’s kidnapping in September 1991, the Patiala Police report was accepted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bhatinda on December 24, 1994, Regarding the kidnappings of Jagwinder Singh and Ranbir Singh, the judges said that they were unable to accept the version of the Punjab

Police and were therefore ordering a ‘CBI inquiry with the stipulation that the report of the investigating agency should be submitted to them within four months.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 14, 1995