Ludhiana fake encounter: Witness turns hostile

Ludhiana, July 21
The prosecution today faced another jolt in the fake encounter case of two brothers Harinder Singh (23) alias Lalli and Jatinder Singh (25) of Macchiwara with an important witness turning hostile.
Witness Harry Verma, who turned hostile, was residing in the neighbourhood where the alleged encounter took place on September 27, 2014.
This witness pleaded ignorance about the identification of the accused persons present in the court.
He also denied having mentioned anything about the “Innova car” which — as per the prosecution —belonged to Gurjit Singh, husband of SAD Sarpanch. In his police statement, this fact was categorically mentioned that the accused came in an Innova car, apart from a police Scorpio.
On the last date of hearing, the prime prosecution witness Harpreet Kaur was declared hostile by the court on the request of the prosecution.
She was cross examined by the Additional Public Prosecutor Gurpal Singh. She was shown her five-page statement recorded by Judicial Magistrate Harpreet Kaur Nafra. She accepted that her signature was on the statement. Defence lawyer Dalip Battish could not cross examine both witnesses as the court time was over.
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjiv Joshi adjourned the case for August 1.
The brothers were killed at a rented accommodation in Ahluwalia colony, Jamalpur area, Ludhiana, on September 27, 2014.
The charges against four persons, including three dismissed policemen, in the alleged fake police encounter were framed in February 2014.
Gurjeet Singh alias Saim has been charged under Sections 302, 148, 149, 120-B of IPC, 25 of the Arms Act and 3 of SC/ST Act.
The other three accused — dismissed from the police — Yadwinder Singh, Ajit Singh and Baldev Singh are facing charges under Section 148, 302 read with 149, 120-B of IPC and 25 Arms Act.
The police had registered the case on the statement of Harpreet Kaur, owner of the house where the encounter had taken place.