Connaught Place Shoot-out: 10 Policemen get life imprison

Oct 24: Long awaited justice came today as Patiala Court announced life imprisonment for all the 10 policemen convicted in a fake shoot out that killed two civilians in 1997.

Earlier a week back the court had convicted police officer SS Rathi and nine others after finding them guilty of murder. Court has considered this a rare case among the rarest.

On one hand Delhi police has termed it as a case of mistaken identity but prosecution tried to present it as a preplanned murder and hence CBI sought death for all accused.

Victim Pradeep Goyal and Jagjeet Singh were Delhi based businessmen. After receiving the judgement, the both victim’s family members expressed satisfaction and this verdict will certainly repose common man’s faith on judiciary.

An Overview:

Relatives of the victims had to wait 10 years to get justice that brought the most unfortunate incident to two families.

Ten years ago on March 31 st 1997 Delhi Police claimed to gun down a notorious and most wanted gangster at Connaught Place in an encounter. Crime Branch of the Delhi Police led by ACP SS Rathi chased the car from Patparganj to Connaught Place on the tip of the information about the number of the car of the wanted criminal.

But within hours of the incident Delhi Police came to know that two persons they have shot dead are the two businessmen who had come to the bank at Connaught Place as a part of their routine of business. The deceased were identified as Pradeep Goyal and Jagjeet Singh.

As police realized their mistake they first tried to suppress the matter and portray the firing as a case of provocation saying that police had to fire in defence as firing was first started from inside the car. This was not enough. An FIR was also registered stating the same. They also put a pistol in the car of the victims.

But later police tried to get rid of the situation saying that it was the case of mistaken identity. Later on the intervention of the Lt. Governor the case was transferred to the CBI. Investigations by the CBI revealed lacunas of the case.

Forensic expert, Roop Singh has also been found guilty as he tried to destroy the evidences which could have gone in favour of the victims.

Such crime by our policemen certainly makes a clear cut sense of how some policemen serve their duties and the 10 years long trail with all efforts from the top cop to manipulate the case only puts another question to the entire functioning.