FARIDKOT: MS, Uppal, Addional Sessions Judge, has ‘Sentenced all the three murder accused Hardev Singh, 22; his mother Pritam Kaur, 50; and Paramjit Kaur, his sister, to imprisonment for life and pay a fine Of Rs 5,000 each. In the case of ‘Defaulting the payment of fine they ‘Will further undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. They have ‘been convicted on the charge of hatching a conspiracy to murder Nachhattar Singh Gill, a former MLA (Congress), on Sept. 29, 1991, The judgment was pronounced on Oct.14.

“According to the FIR and the Prosecution story, all the three accused were challenged on the Allegation that they along with ‘other accomplices Jagdey Singh, Gurjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh (now proclaimed offenders) had conspired to murder Mr, Gill. He was shot dead by two young men while he, along with Sukhdev Singh and Kartar Singh, was sitting in his courtyard. Two Sikh ‘young men had entered the house, One of the youths while talking to Nachhattar Singh took out his revolver and fired three shots at him and two shots at Kartar Singh, Nachhattar Singh was immediately taken to civil hospital where he was declared dead.

Parminder Singh, president, Moga Municipal Committee, who appeared as a prosecution witness, Said that he was returning home when he saw Gurjit Singh driving a scooter and Chamkaur Singh alias Kauri sitting on the back seat Of the scooter, the scooter was being driven at a high speed, Parminder Singh deposed that he had suspicion’ that both Gurjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh were fleeing after killing Nachhattar Singh, In order to prove the conspiracy, the prosecution produced direct evidence of Avtar Singh, who had gone to the house of the accused whereall the accused persons were present, When he injured about Joginder Singh, father of Hardcy Singh, Pritam Kaur, wife of Joginder Singh, complained to Gurtej Singh that her husband Joginder Singh had been murdered by Nachhattar Singh and they would not spare Nachhattar Singh and would take revenge. He further stated that Gurtej Singh assured Pritam Kaur that she should not worry and they will show the result.

He further stated that all the accused agreed that Gurjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh Kauri would eliminate Nachhattar Singh and Gurjit Singh and Kauri also assured the accused that they will Carry out the job assigned to them, The additional public prosecutor has further contended that the present case is a rare one where the Prosecution has produced direct evidence to prove the conspiracy.

It is recalled that later on both Gunjit Singh and Chamkaur Singh were killed in a police encounter.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 28, 1994