Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the film 'Satluj', the Nabha Open Agricultural Jail has sought the whereabouts of former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jaspal Singh, a life convict in the 1995 abduction and murder case of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The jail authorities have formally requested the Hoshiarpur Police to trace the convict, who was released on bail in May 2023.
Police Directed to Locate Convict
Assistant Sub Inspector Jaswinder Singh of Hoshiarpur Sadar Police Station confirmed that Assistant Sub Inspector Surinder Pal Singh has been directed to locate Jaspal Singh at his native village. The directive comes as the Nabha jail seeks to verify his current address and ensure compliance with bail conditions.
Background of the Case
Jaspal Singh, along with other police personnel, was convicted in 2005 by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Patiala for the abduction and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who had documented illegal cremations in Punjab. The court sentenced DSP Jaspal Singh and ASI Amarjit Singh to life imprisonment, while SHOs Surinderpal Singh, Jasbir Singh, Satnam Singh, and Head Constable Prithipal Singh received seven-year sentences. On appeal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld Jaspal Singh's life sentence, acquitted Amarjit Singh, and enhanced the sentences of the other four convicts to life imprisonment.
Release on Bail and Premature Release Proposal
Jaspal Singh was released on bail from Nabha Open Agricultural Jail in May 2023 after furnishing a personal bond and a surety of Rs 1 lakh. His release was ordered by Patiala Chief Judicial Magistrate Navdeep Kaur Gill, following a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment in a contempt case (COCP No. 2020/2022). The judgment stipulated that if the Governor does not decide on a government's premature release proposal within three months, the prisoner must be released on bail until a decision is made.
According to a senior jail official, the Punjab Government sent a proposal for Jaspal Singh's premature release to the Governor in September 2022. However, the Governor has not yet taken a decision on the proposal. The official explained that the High Court's directive necessitated the bail release, as the three-month deadline had lapsed without a gubernatorial decision.
Previous Parole and Legal Proceedings
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaspal Singh was granted parole along with other prisoners. In 2021, he filed a petition in the High Court seeking premature release but withdrew it in August 2022. The court then directed him to surrender by August 16, 2022. He has spent most of his imprisonment in the open jail, which allows inmates to work and engage in agricultural activities.
Impact of the Satluj Controversy
The renewed focus on the Khalra murder case comes amid the controversy surrounding the film 'Satluj', which reportedly touches upon the human rights activist's story. The film has sparked debates in Punjab, drawing attention to the unresolved aspects of the case and the status of the convicts. The Nabha jail's move to trace Jaspal Singh highlights the ongoing legal and administrative efforts to manage the case, even as the premature release proposal remains pending with the Governor.
