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Punjab: CBI court sentences former SHO, then ASI to life imprisonment for 1992 Majitha fake encounter

The CBI had charged the officials with fabricating the encounter and falsely implicating the victims

Reported by:  PTC News Desk  Edited by:  Jasleen Kaur -- February 04th 2025 03:58 PM -- Updated: February 04th 2025 04:11 PM
Punjab: CBI court sentences former SHO, then ASI to life imprisonment for 1992 Majitha fake encounter

Punjab: CBI court sentences former SHO, then ASI to life imprisonment for 1992 Majitha fake encounter

PTC Web Desk:  A special CBI court, presided over by Judge Rakesh Gupta, on Tuesday sentenced two Punjab Police officials—former SHO Gurbhinder Singh and then ASI Prashotam Singh—to life imprisonment in a 1992 fake encounter case in which two persons were killed at Majitha in Amritsar. Besides, the court has imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh each on them.

The case dates back to 1992, when Baldev Singh alias Deba and Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha alias Ford, were killed in what the police claimed was an encounter with terrorists. However, a CBI investigation later revealed that the encounter was staged, and the victims were falsely implicated.


The court acquitted former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) SS Sidhu and former Inspector Chaman Lal, granting them the benefit of the doubt. The trial lasted for several years, during which multiple accused, including Harbhajan Singh, Mohinder Singh, Parshotam Lal, Mohan Singh, and Jassa Singh, passed away.

Baldev Singh was serving as a Lance Naik in the Indian Army and was on leave when he was picked up from his home in Baserke Bhaini village on September 6, 1992, by a police team led by then-Sub-Inspector Mohinder Singh and SHO Harbhajan Singh of Chheharta police station.

Similarly, Lakhwinder Singh, a farmer from Sultanwind village, was abducted on September 12, 1992, from his rented house in Preet Nagar, Amritsar, by a police team led by SHO Gurbhinder Singh of Majitha police station. Another person, Kulwant Singh, was also picked up at the same time but was later released.

At the time, the police alleged that both men were hardcore terrorists involved in multiple crimes, including the murder of Harbhajan Singh alias Shindi, son of then-cabinet minister Gurmej Singh in the Beant Singh government. The police falsely implicated them in the July 23, 1992, for the killing of the minister’s son and later staged an encounter to cover up the illegal detention.

The CBI took over the case in 1995 following a Supreme Court order regarding the large-scale cremation of unclaimed bodies by the Punjab Police during the militancy period. The investigation revealed that Baldev and Lakhwinder were illegally detained before being killed on September 13, 1992 in a staged encounter.

The police initially claimed that Baldev was taken to Sansara village for the recovery of arms and ammunition, where an encounter with militants ensued, leading to his and Lakhwinder’s deaths. However, the CBI found no records in police logbooks of any vehicle visiting the so-called encounter site. Moreover, the police’s claim that an "injured" Baldev had identified Lakhwinder as an attacker was disproved, as Baldev had died instantly, making such an identification impossible.

Public prosecutor Anmol Narang stated that the court convicted Gurbhinder and Parshotam under Section 302 read with Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder. Additionally, Gurbhinder was convicted under Section 218 IPC, while Parshotam was found guilty under Section 120-B read with Section 218 IPC.

During the trial, only 19 out of 37 witnesses could testify, as many had passed away over the years. Sarabjit Singh Verka, counsel for the victims’ families, noted that despite the long delay, justice had finally been served.

- PTC NEWS

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