The Punjab and Haryana high court has rejected the petition filed by Punjab police sub-inspector (SI) Surjit Singh seeking protection after he made a startling revelation that he killed many Sikh youth in fake encounters at the behest of his seniors during insurgency in the state.
Justice Sabina during the hearing observed that the petitioner himself must have been hand-in-glove with others in such encounters following which Mr Singh’s counsel R.S. Bains admitted his involvement and also sought directions for protection of the cop’s life. Justice Sabina, when asked the accused (petitioner) why he had not approached his seniors or the director-general of police (DGP), the counsel argued that his client had approached his seniors but he was assaulted.
Justice Sabina hearing these arguments dismissed the petition. The SI in his petition had asserted that he had been compelled by his seniors to kill youth in fake encounters. Willing to depose against his seniors, he had sought security cover by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and demanded investigation against his seniors. He had said, “The weight of the crime I committed and witnessed has always made me sad.”
The petition filed by the SI reads, “Senior officers of Punjab police killed innocent citizens in fake encounters by using their juniors for their own promotions and medals.