HC asks CBI to probe ''fake encounters'' of Saini attackers

Chandigarh, Oct 5 (UNI) Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked CBI to probe whether the three alleged absconding accused involved in 1991 abortive attempt to kill Chandigarh Police Chief Sumedh Singh Saini, at present Punjab Vigilance Bureau chief, were shot dead in fake encounters.

The Division Bench of Justice M S Gill and Justice A N Jindal also directed the Central investigation agency that if it were a case of fake encounters, it must bring to book the police officers responsible.

The Bench also directed the Central Investigation Bureau to submit the status report on the case on Deecember 5, the next date of hearing.

The order came during resumed hearing on the case of Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, one of the accused, now lodged in Tihar Jail awarded death sentence for attempt to kill Maninderjit Singh Bitta, then the Youth Congress President.

The three absconding accused are Balwant Singh Multani, Navneet Singh and Manjit Singh.

Retired IAS officer D S Multani had in an affidavit alleged that his son Balwant Singh appeared to have been killed in a fake encounter by police.

All three were declared Proclaimed Offenders.

UNI