A key witness in the alleged murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra today named then DGP K.P.S. Gill in his deposition.
Kuldip Singh, special police officer who used to be the gunman of SHO Satnam Singh, co-accused in the Khalra case, said Gill had met the activist at the residence of SSP Ajit Singh Sandhu at Manawala, a few days before Khalra was allegedly killed by the police.
Kuldip said Satnam called him 15 days before Diwali in 1995, and asked him to send meals to a man locked in a room adjoining his quarters. Kuldip claimed the man had many injuries on his body. He’d been looking after the man, Khalra, for four days when SSP Sandhu and DSP Jaspal Singh came to the SHO’s quarters in a car without a registration number. Soon, they were joined by Sarhali SHO Surinderpal Singh, SHO of Manochahal Jasbir Singh, and a police official Prithipal Singh.
Kuldip alleged that the policemen beat up Khalra on several occasions. Three days later, Satnam took Khalra to SSP Sandhu’s house at Manawala. Kuldip alleged that later, Gill arrived and went into Khalra’s room with another person who appeared to be a police officer.
A week later, DSP Jaspal Singh, SHO Surinderpal Singh and SHO Jasbir Singh again visited Khalra and beat him up. Kuldeep said in the middle of this, they asked him to bring hot water. ‘‘I was in the kitchen when I heard two shots being fired…I saw Arvinder Singh, the DSP’s gunman, and Balwinder Singh dumping Khalra’s body in the boot of a Maruti van outside’’, he said.
The SPO said he reported the matter to CBI after which he returned to Bachhrrey village. Kuldip alleged DSP Jaspal Singh and Satnam urged him to give false statements in court. Kuldip claimed the accused had planned to kill him and his wife in an encounter.