Friends, colleagues remember KJ Singh

Punjab ADGP, Crime, Parmod Kumar (right) and Mohali SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal at KJ Singh’s house on Saturday. (Express photo by Jaipal Singh)

Karan Jeet Singh, who was found murdered at his home on Saturday, had worked at The Indian Express, The Times of India and The Tribune.

KJ, as he was better known to Chandigarh’s journalist fraternity, was part of the team that designed and brought out Chandigarh Newsline when it first came out in 1997. After news of his murder spread, many of his former colleagues in The Indian Express from those years recalled a colleague and friend for his professionalism, his immense appetite for work, his team spirit and his good taste in music and poetry.

Nirupama Dutt recalled a headline he gave to one of her reports for CNL. “I had gone to a jazz event in Kasuali and it did not take off. There was some cold halwa going, I had written about all that and I will never forget the headline he gave: Making halwa out of jazz,” she said.

Dutt remembered him as a professional who was “exceptionally good” at his work and encouraging youngsters. “He mentored many trainee journalists. He had a special talent for that,” said Dutt. Ï feel an immense sense of loss when I think of his professional talents, the gentle soul he was and the brutal manner of his death. She said he was fond of Western music and poetry and shared with colleagues many inspiring poems.

He was also generous. “When we women in the office went out with him for a meal or even a cup of tea, there was no question about who would pick up the tab, he would not let us touch it, he was chivalrous in that way,” Dutt said.

KJ was a bachelor and lived with his mother, who was also found murdered with him. Vipin Pubby, former editor of The Indian Express, said: “KJ was a thorough professional and exceptionally good at editing. He did not just improve the news report by making it grammatically correct but by adding value to the copy. As young reporters, we wanted him to handle the editing and were confident he would come up with a brilliant headline and a great rewritten intro.” Pubby said they had long planned to split a bottle of beer, but the day never came.

Another colleague, Virender Kumar, recalled that he and KJ had joined The Indian Express together in 1977. “Except for stints when I was posted out, we worked together till 1998 when he left The Indian Express. He was a workhorse and he could turn out the best, both in terms of quality and quantity. He was equal to four guys. You don’t find such people often. He was an extremely bright guy, never looked at the watch. If he felt his presence was required, he would stay as long as he was needed.

Exceptionally good desk hand and very well read, too,” said Virender Kumar, who was resident editor of the Ahmedabad and Lucknow editions of The Indian Express, and senior associate editor in Chandigarh.

Former colleague Suresh Khatta recalled how KJ once helped him. “Many years ago, when I was working with KJ, I did not have money to buy a scooter. KJ helped me financially and told me to pay him back in instalments. I still ride that scooter.”

A J Philip, former senior associate editor of The Tribune said, “KJ’s murder is extremely shocking. It is actually beyond belief that such a gentle person was killed.” Recalling KJ, who worked with Philip in The Tribune, he said, “KJ was good in designing pages. He also had a knack for giving catchy headlines. Everyday we used to meet in the evening to discuss the items for the paper. Singh had a good photographic sense. He knew how to crop a photograph to make it more impactful. He was a great man, who knew how to make people work and yet not boss over anyone.”

Senior politicians of the region have condemned the brutal twin-murder and expressed shock at the incident. “Just heard senior journalist KJ Singh has been murdered along with his mother. Condemn this killing and urge authorities to nab culprits. I condemn ghastly murder of senior journalist KJ Singh and his mother at Mohali. Urge police to nab perpetrators immediately,” Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal tweeted on Saturday evening.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Haryana chief minister, too, condemned the incident. “The twin murder has left me shocked. KJ Singh was an honest and a fearless journalist. I pray to God Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and enough courage to the family to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.

Area councillor Kuljeet Singh Bedi, who was also one of KJ’s friends, said, “KJ once told me that some youngsters used to sit in the park adjoining his house and consume alcohol till late night and create nuisance. I informed the area police station in-charge and requested him to take necessary action. For some days, a PCR vehicle also used to be stationed near the park. But then it stopped.”