Bhittewidd (Rajasansi), October 4
The house of Mr Sharm Singh, w hose grandson Jaj Singh would be hanged on October 16 in the local high-security Central Jail along with his accomplice Gurwail Singh for murdering his brother Kulwant Singh, his wife and other family members, was found locked when The Tribune team visited the village today. The villagers say his whereabouts are not known as he left the village two-three years ago.
It was Sharm Singh himself who had lodged complaint against Jaj Singh, who had killed his brother and other family members due to land dispute on August 20, 2000.
The house was locked and the surrounding area presented a deserted look. Even Mr Kala Singh, a retired Army man of Kotla and father-in-law of the victim Kulwant Singh, feigned ignorance about the whereabouts of the old man.
Meanwhile, the family of the convict Gurwail Singh has appealed to the government for filing mercy petition on their behalf in the Supreme Court, as they do not have resources for filing a petition in the apex court.
Mr Pritam Singh, Gurwail Singh’s brother, said they would also file mercy appeal to the President to save Gurwail Singh from the gallows as his brother was innocent and falsely implicated in the murder case.
He said the government should take a lenient view as the family members of the convict — wife and four children — were unable to make both ends meet.
The jail authorities have filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on behalf of the convicts by providing free legal aid to them on humanitarian grounds.
