JALANDHAR: Satbir Singh, head constable of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), who hadallegedly shot dead five of his colleagues posted at the Punjab National Bank branch at Nakodar last week was found dead near his native village in Rohtak.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar, Dinkar Gupta, said here that according to preliminary reports received here, Satbirhad committed suicide although the exact cause of his death is not yet known. A police party, led by the Nakodar Deputy ‘Superintendent of Police, has been sent to Rohtak with the case file for further action.
Satbir was found dead in the fields near his native village of Khadi, which falls under the Jhajjar police station of Robiak district.
A massive manhunt had been launched by the Jalandhar police to nab him. Police search parties had been sent to his native village and to those of his relatives and friends, for three days, a police party had been stationed at his village. A reward of Rs 20,000 had also been announced for anyone providing a clue to his whereabouts.
Senior police officials believe that the suicide could have been on the result of a realization on Satbir’s part that he had been cornered from all sides and would have to face punishment for gunning down five jawansin cold blood.
The motive for the crime, however, still remains a puzzle as the earlier theory of it having been the handiwork of a depressed Satbir has been discarded by the police, An intensive study of his previous medical records and family and professional background have not revealed any evidence of “depressive manifestations,” Gupta said.
He has been described by his colleagues and seniors in the ITBP as a “good worker” who led a fairly happy family life.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 28, 1995
