M A I N   N E W S

DIG’s arrest stayed in Sukha case
Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Feb 12 — A local court today stayed the arrest of Patiala Range Deputy Inspector-General of Police Sanjeev Gupta for his alleged role in the illegal detention and subsequent disappearance of a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) activist in Ropar district in 1993.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Birender Singh, stayed the arrest of the DIG and fixed the next date of hearing in the case on February 19. Earlier, the Special Public Prosecutor of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed the investigating agency’s reply to the bail application.

Besides DIG Sanjeev Gupta, Superintendent of Police Mohinder Singh Chahal and Deputy Superintendents of Police Ramesh Chander and Jagtar Singh have been accused of illegal detention and disappearance of Babbar Khalsa activist Sukhdev Singh, alias Sukha, of Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar district in March 1993.

The CBI Prosecutor, Mr V.K. Sharma, while contesting the bail application said it was not maintainable in law as a charge sheet had been filed in the case, cognizance of the case had been taken and non-bailable warrants had been issued against the accused. The prosecutor also claimed the case was of a serious nature and not fit for grant of anticipatory bail as the accused due to his position could tamper with the prosecution evidence.

Earlier, non-bailable warrants had been issued against all accused in the case by the CBI Special Magistrate, Mr Jaspinder Singh Heyer, on February 2. The warrants had been issued after the investigating agency presented a charge sheet against the police officer in the court.

All four police officers, who were posted in Ropar district in March 1993, are accused of being instrumental in the disappearance of the activist. According to the charge sheet Sukha was summoned to the Sohana police station by the then Inspector, Mr Ramesh Chander, who was personally known to him, on the plea that SSP Sanjeev Gupta wanted to meet him.

The charge sheet claims the alleged militant was kept in illegal custody for one month in the Ropar CIA interrogation centre. The CBI claimed that Sukha was tortured during this period and transferred from one police station to another till July 1993 following which he was untraceable. It alleged the four police officers conspired to kidnap the activist with the intention to kill him.

The case had been handed over to the CBI in 1998 by the Punjab and Haryana High Court after Sukha’s wife moved an application seeking a CBI probe into the incident.

Cheema made Punjab CEO
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — The Punjab Government today issued an order appointing Mr G.S. Cheema, Chief Electoral Officer.

His appointment has been made following directions from the Election Commission of India.

Mr Cheema, who was earlier posted as Principal Secretary, Department of Cultural Affairs, will replace Dr Brajendra Singh, who will now hold the former's post.

Earlier, Mr Vijay Kain, a senior IAS officer, had been posted to replace Dr Brajendra Singh as Chief Electoral Officer. But Mr Kain did not join for personal reasons. The order pertaining to Mr Kain’s posting was cancelled today. He will continue to work as Secretary, Department of Defence Services Welfare.