M A I N   N E W S

A year after Gikki was killed, outrage continues in cyberspace  
Saurabh Malik/TNS

As his family, friends and sympathisers observe his first death anniversary, The Tribune takes a re-look at the entire gamut of controversy.

The case

It was on April 21, 2011 that the 31-year-old was murdered, allegedly in front of his father. The case is an embarrassment for the SAD-led government as Gikki was allegedly murdered by former MLA Sarabjit Makkar's nephew Ram Simran Singh Makkar aka Prince Makkar, who is also a SAD councillor.

The prosecution story is that Gikki’s father Rajbir Singh Sekhon saw his son standing near the main road, along with Sukhdev Singh, after he reached Baba Rasoi Dhaba in Jalandhar’s Model Town at about 12.45 am on the intervening night of April 20 and 21 last year.

At that time, accused Amarpreet Singh along with Amardeep Singh Ram Simran Singh Makkar and Jasdeep Singh were “present there and were angry with his son”.

The prosecution claimed Amardeep Singh took out his revolver and started fighting with Gikki. Amarpreet Singh and Jasdeep Singh raised a ‘lalkara’ (instigated) and Makkar took out his revolver and fired at Gikki’s back. He did not live long to reach hospital.

Prince Makkar was Gikki’s closest friend since childhood and had only lately been out of touch, as he got busy in his political career.

An FIR in the case was registered on April 21, 2011, for murder, criminal conspiracy and common intention under Section 302, 34 and 120-B of the IPC. The accused were also booked under provisions of the Arms Act.

Court proceedings

The investigations in the case culminated in the presentation of a chargesheet against the accused on July 11 last year. Subsequently, charges were framed by the trial court for the commission of an offence under Section 302, 120-B and the Arms Act.

The trial was shifted out of Jalandhar to Gurdaspur on the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders after Prince Makkar filed a petition.

He was seeking the transfer of the trial out of Punjab on the ground that a fair and independent trial could not be expected in the state, as there was a very strong hate campaign against the accused.

Just about a month back, attempts by the three accused — Jasdeep Singh, Amarpreet Singh and Amardeep Singh — to get bail in the murder case remained unsuccessful. Their bail plea was dismissed as withdrawn by Justice Ranjit Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Cyber campaign

The Facebook account ‘Lets Unite to bring Gikky justice - RIP Gurkirat Sekhon’ has received an overwhelming response with more than 5,000 people becoming its members and voicing strong opinion within hours of it being created.

The members have been demanding that the culprits be brought to justice. One of the comments posted on March 24 says: “We r still waitin’ for the justice… is it fair?

Another comment posted this week says: “21st April, the dark night for the Sekhon family; what happened, they never thought of it in their dreams. Lost their precious gem… it has made them hollow from inside. A precious son, a loving husband, a caring father and a strong brother. Who is going to play all these roles for the family now (sic)…? ”

But the most touching lines are, perhaps, on the top of the page: “Help me bring justice to papa…”

April 21, 2011

n Gurkirat Sekhon (pic), 31, was murdered in front of his father

n He was allegedly shot dead by SAD councillor Prince Makkar, also a childhood friend of the Jalandhar hotelier