“Keeping in view the nature and gravity of the offence committed by the convict, they are sentenced to life imprisonment,” said additional district and sessions judge, Ludhiana, (ASJ) M.S. Virdi, while pronouncing the verdict.

In this regard, a case was registered under sections 302/ 34 of IPC and 25 of Arms Act on March 2, 1998 on basis of a statement given by Malkiat Singh, the then sarpanch of Daad village, after the recovery of Pappu’s body. As per prosecution story, Gurdip Singh of Daad village was on his way to Kheri village in his car on March 1, 1998, when Kamaljit Singh speedily pased by him on a scooter. Then a maruti car also overtook him at high speed.

Kamaljit Singh hit the milestone and fell down. The accused, sitting in the car, came down and asked Gurdip to help them put the injured Kamaljit in their car. Gurdip said that he saw two .12 bore guns were lying in the car. Gurdip said that when he returned to his vilage he learnt that Kamaljit Singh had been murdered. As per prosecution, two bullets had hit the head of Kamaljit Singh

However, the accused pleaded innocence in the court and claimed that the police was implicating him. But the judge declined the plea of the accused and convicted him for the murder of Kamaljit Singh.