3 former Punjab cops convicted in fake encounter case

A special CBI court in Mohali convicted three former Punjab Police officers for the murder of a young trio in a fake encounter dating back 31 years. The quantum of punishment against former police inspector Dharam Singh and ASIs Surinder Singh and Gurdev Singh will be pronounced on September 14. Nine cops had been charged in the case. One of them, absconding ex-ASI Bhupinder Singh, was declared a proclaimed offender while five died during the course of the trial. The CBI, which probed the case, cited 55 witnesses. But due to the delay in the start of the trial, statements of only 27 witnesses could be recorded. Many witnesses died over the years.