Nihang killings: 8 get life term
Manish Sirhindi
Tribune News Service
Patiala, July 2
A local court today awarded life term to eight members of Baba Uday Singh group of the Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal (Panjwan Takht) for killing four members of Baba Balbir Singh group on the premises of Baba Budha Dal in September 2007.
The court also convicted four family members of Baba Balbir Singh for attempt to murder and awarded them 10 years in jail. The court acquitted 15 others.
Baba Uday Singh’s wife Manjit Kaur and daughter Manpreet Kaur were among those acquitted.
Those awarded life term are Ravinder Singh alias Ranjha, Shahid Singh, Kartar Singh, Ranjit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Kikkar Singh and Jagsir Singh. The court held Baldev Singh, Vishpartap Singh, Dayal Singh and Laxman Singh guilty of attempt to murder and awarded them 10 years in jail. Counsel for Baba Udhay Singh group Brijinder Singh Sodhi said they would move the high court against the judgment.
On September 21, 2007, Baba Udhay Singh along with Baba Surjeet Singh, who was incharge of horses of the sect, came to visit an ailing Baba Santa Singh on the Budha Dal premises. But they were stopped by supporters of Baba Balbir Singh who said he was too ill to meet anyone. This led to a clash between the two factions. Baba Udhay Singh and his supporters fired indiscriminately at their rivals.
Four members of Baba Balbir Singh’s family — father Assa Singh, sons Jagdish Singh and Bhajan Singh and nephew Karamjit Singh – were killed. Supporters of Baba Balbir Singh retaliated with swords and injured three of the rival group. The assailants then fled the spot.
Baba Budha Dal owns a prestigious school in Patiala besides several prime properties. Baba Udhay Singh apprehended that Baba Balbir Singh would coerce Baba Santa Singh to hand over reins of the group to him, which provoked the clash.
Of 25 persons who faced the trail, Baba Uday Singh and his son Gurkirpal Singh were declared proclaimed offenders by the court. His wife Manjit Kaur and daughter Manpreet Kaur along with Kulwant Singh were out on bail. Baba Surjit Singh died during the trial.
