PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 29

In a jolt to the Tarn Taran police investigating the Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh murder case, the court of metropolitan magistrate in New Delhi and Tihar jail authorities have refused to send two suspects, held by the Delhi Police, on production warrant in view of the Covid-19 pandemic guidelines.

The police have, however, been told they can question the accused through video conferencing.

The Delhi Police had arrested five members of banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa, including two gangsters, after a brief exchange of fire in the Shakarpur area of the Capital on December 7.

Besides the two suspects, Gurjeet Singh, alias Bhaa, and Sukhdeep Singh, alias Bhura, of Gurdaspur, the others in custody include Kashmir residents Shabbir Ahmad, Ayub Pathan and Riyaz.

According to the Delhi Police, Gurjeet and Sukhdeep had gunned down Balwinder at the behest of another gangster Sukhmeet Singh, alias Sukh Bhikhariwal, who was arrested in Dubai.

Though the Tarn Taran police had cited personal enmity of Balwinder’s son as the cause of the killing, the Delhi Police had claimed Pakistan was using Punjab-based gangsters for targeted killings. The family of the deceased had claimed the incident was the handiwork of a militant outfit.

A senior official said they had brought the matter to the knowledge of Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta and requested him to take up the matter at an appropriate level for handing over the two suspects for personal interrogation.

“There are certain things that require personal interrogation of the two suspects such as recovery of weapon used for gunning down Balwinder,” he said.

Tarn Taran SSP Dhruman H Nimbale said efforts were on to bring them here on a production warrant for further interrogation.

Balwinder was shot by two persons at his residence-cum-school on October 16. Bhaa and Bhura, who were arrested by a special cell of the Delhi Police along with three Kashmiri residents, had claimed they carried out the killing.

Efforts on to get their custody: SSP

Suspects Gurjeet Singh, alias Bhaa, and Sukhdeep Singh, alias Bhura, are in Delhi Police custody along with three others
Tarn Taran police say they need to interrogate them personally for recovery of weapon used to gun down Balwinder Singh
SSP Dhruman H Nimbale said efforts were on to bring them on a production warrant for interrogation