Muslims a deprived lot: Sachar panel
*Recommends slew of measures for upliftment

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Concluding that Muslims are a deprived lot, the Rajinder Sachar Committee has favoured reservation for the most backward in the community, creation of an Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) and a nomination procedure for their political involvement at the grassroot.

The committee, which went into the social, economic and educational status of the Muslims, has come out with a series of findings including the point that the percentage of Muslims in Government employment was a mere 4.9 per cent of the total 88,44,669 employees, indicating that all was not well for the 150 million population in the country.

The number of Muslims in security agencies was 3.2 per cent — 60,517 out of the total of 18,79,134 in CRPF, CISF, BSF, SSB and ‘other agencies’, it said without specifying whether armed forces were included or not. The Muslims’ headcount in the armed forces sought by the panel had triggered a controversy in Parliament sometime back.

The 404-page report which made comprehensive recommendations for "setting the community on the road to progress" was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Minorities Affairs Minister A R Antulay, who said that the Government expected to start its implementation by February. The committee was constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in March last year.

Favouring reservation for a group of Muslims with traditional occupations as that of Scheduled Castes, the report has come at a time when the quota issue is again in the forefront ahead of the Assembly elections in some States, including Uttar Pradesh. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has talked of ‘fair share’ in Government jobs to Muslims.

Noting that Muslims in the country have three groups in terms of their social structure- Ashrafs, Ajlafs and Arzals, the report said Arzals, whose traditional occupation is similar to that of SCs, may be designated as most backward community and provided reservation.

This particular group needs multifarious measures, including reservation, as it remains "cumulatively oppressed", it said adding the other two groups require different types of affirmative action.

Antulay later told reporters that the report is the "best thing" that has happened to the community.

Observing that a "very small" proportion of Government and public sector employees are Muslims, concentrated in lower level positions, the panel recommended that it may be desirable to have minority persons on interview panels.

This can be done on the lines of SC,ST participation in panels, it said adding that Muslims constituted the second largest religious group in the country and the largest religious minority.

Besides, it said, India’s Muslim population is among the largest in the world and exceeded only by Indonesia’s and close to the Muslim populations of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In an interesting finding, it said Muslim population growth has slowed down as fertility has declined substantially, clearly showing that the community is well into demographic transition.

The Committee Recommended Constitution of "equal opportunity commission" to look into grievances of deprived groups. It said an example of such a policy tool is the UK Race Relations Act 1976.

Such a measure, while providing a redressal mechanism for different types of discrimination, will give further reassurance to minorities that any unfair action against them will invite the vigilance of the law, it said.

Noting that Muslim participation in electoral bodies is known to be small, the report said of the 543 Lok Sabha members, only 33 are Muslims.

It said a carefully conceived "nomination procedure" can be worked out to increase the participation of minorities at grassroots.

Mechanism should be put in place so that a large number of minorities are nominated to increase their participation in public bodies.

"A more rational delimitation procedure that does not reserve constituencies with high minority population shares for SCs will improve the opportunity for minorities, especially Muslims, to contest and get elected to Parliament and state assemblies," it said.

Referring to educational opportunities for Muslims, the committee recommended mechanisms where madrassas can be linked with a higher secondary school board so that their students wanting to shift to regular or mainstream education can do so.

It recommended recognition of degrees from madrassas for eligibility in competitive examinations such as civil services, banks, defence services and other such examinations.

It suggested that a process of evaluating the content of the school textbooks needed to be initiated and institutionalised. (PTI)

US based architect to assist in construction
SMVDSB’s Rs 200 cr dream project takes off on Dec 5

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Nov 30: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, Katra, a three-phased multi speciality hospital with Medical College, a dream project of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), will take off on December 5.

Foundation stone of the multi-crore project will be laid by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha, who also happens to be Chairman of the Shrine Board, in 45 acres of land at Painthal road near Vaishno Devi University, which is also being run by the Board.

Architectural plan for the hospital, which will be launched with Rs 42 crore Cancer Hospital in first phase, was approved by the Governor at a high level meeting in New Delhi. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SMVDSB, Dr Arun Kumar, Additional CEO, Puneet Kumar, Health Advisor Dr Vijay Gupta and architects besides others attended the meeting.

The SMVDSB has approved architectural plan for the hospital of Achal Kataria, New Delhi in collaboration with Mohinder Singh Dutta of United States, who are experts in hospital buildings especially Cancer Hospitals.

Dr Arun Kumar told the Excelsior that first phase of the hospital which include a Cancer Hospital is targeted to be completed in 15 months. Construction on entire project could take three years, he said.

Cost of first phase of the hospital has been estimated at Rs 42 crore. While cost of two other phases is being worked out, it is expected to be around Rs 200 crore. A number of people from all over the world including NRIs have already approached the Shrine Board for donations. Some of them include regular donors.

Worth significant in architectural designs approved for the hospital, located in Trikuta foothills, the abode of Goddess Vaishno Devi ji, is that from every bed of the hospital, track of the Goddess will be visible, sources said, adding the hospital will also present a look of the temple.

While Cancer Hospital will be first phase of the project, four super specialities will be added in the second phase which include Neurology, Cardiology, Orthopedics and Trauma Centre. Also in second phase, all diagnostic equipments, required for maximum usage for all common patients will be added.

In the third phase, the Institute will become a complete health centre having a Medical College, Nursing College, Research Centre, Holistic Centre and Meditation Centre besides Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Yoga and Faith. The Institute will be first of its kind not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in many States.

As reported, the Institute will be at par with PGI Chandigarh. It will also have a lake named Vaishno Sarovar, herbal plantations and landscaping.

The Shrine Board is already running Mata Vaishno Devi University.

3 ultras surrender in Doda
3 militants shot dead in Mahore

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: Three top militants of Hizbul Mujahideen including a ‘battalion commander’ were gunned down by Army and police at Mahore in Reasi police district while three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ultras including two ‘commanders’ today surrendered before Doda police along with arms and ammunition.

Troops of 59 Rashtriya Rifles and police launched a joint search operation at village Deval in Mahore area of Reasi police district in early hours of this morning after developing an information that three militants had taken shelter in an abandoned dhok.

SSP Reasi J L Sharma said Army and police surrounded the hide-out and asked the militants to surrender. However, the militants opened heavy firing, which was replied by the security personnel. After a heavy exchange of gun-fighting, all three militants were eliminated by Army and police without suffering any casualties on their side.

Slain militants have been identified as Shabir Ahmed alias Tufail, a ‘battalion commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen, Abdul Hamid alias Ashiq and Mohd Amin alias Zunaid son of Sultan Chopan, all residents of Gulabgarh.

Shabir Ahmed and Mohd Amin were involved in killing a civilian and chopping off ears and nose of half a dozen persons at Neoch on the intervening night of June 14 and 15 this year, Mr Sharma said.

Besides, the three slain ultras were also wanted in a series of militant activities in Gool-Gulabgarh-Mahore belt and their killings were a big setback to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, he added.

In another setback to Lashkar-e-Toiba, whose three militants were killed at Dachan in Marwah area of Doda district few days back, three more hardcore militants of the outfit including two ‘commanders’ surrendered before Doda police at Dachan today, SSP Doda Manohar Singh said.

He identified the militants, who surrendered following meetings held with their parents by Doda police, as Mohd Salim alias Abu Osama son of Abdul Samad R/o Hunzar, Dachan, a ‘tehsil commander’ of the outfit, Nazir Ahmed alias Abu Moosa son of Bhadar Wani R/o Nowgam, Marwah, a ‘section commander’ and Zahoor Ahmed alias Abu Saqib son of Ghulam Ahmed R/o Marwah.

Salim and Nazir were active since 2001 while Zahoor Ahmed had joined militancy in early part of 2005.

They handed over two AK rifles eight magazines, three hand grenades, 105 rounds and one wireless set at the time of surrender.

DIG Udhampur-Doda range Lalat Indu Mohanty supervised the surrender.

An Over Ground Worker of the militants, Ghulam Ali Dar, 35, son of Abdullah Dar R/o Khandwa, was arrested by security force from village Ratan in Doda.

From a hide-out at Kalasant in Dudu area of Udhampur, security forces recovered one .303 rifle, one magazine, 10 rounds, five blankets and 130 kg ration.

Pak not responding on fugitive issue: Pranab

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Pakistan has not responded positively to India’s request to hand over the persons involved in various crimes and terrorist activities in that country, Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee informed the Rajya Sabha today.

He said during the Foreign Secretary level talks on November 14-15 this year, Pakistan had expressed its willingness to cooperate based on specific inputs provided by India on terrorist incidents.

"India has, from time to time, given to Pakistan lists of fugitives from Indian law wanted for Crimes and Terrorist Acts in India and known to be in Pakistan, with the request that they be apprehended and handed over to India," Mukherjee said in a written reply.

Replying to a question on whether India and Pakistan were close to an agreement on Siachen as reported in certain sections of the media, the minister said India’s position on the issue was that authentication of the presently held positions has to be the first step before any redeployment of troops is considered.

"There has been no agreement on this issue," he said. (PTI)

30 sittings in Assembly session
Qarra to present maiden budget on January 17

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra will present his maiden budget in the Assembly on January 17, according to a provisional calendar issued by Speaker Tara Chand today.

This will be fourth budget of the Congress-PDP coalition Government and first by Mr Qarra. First three budgets were presented by former Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig.

Excelsior was the first to report that the State Government was planning to pre-pone budget session to December-January instead of March-April to use the months of March-April to working season when weather gradually improves in entire State. In January-February, the upper reaches experience snowfall and plains biting cold affecting the working season.

The Assembly session, scheduled to begin on January 8 with Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha’s address to joint session of the Legislature will continue upto February 23, if not extended.

It will have 30 sittings, according to the calendar.

Three days, January 9-11, will be devoted to discussion on the Governor’s Address and reply by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Mr Qarra will present budget on January 17. General discussion on the budget is scheduled for January 19, 22 and 23. The Finance Minister will reply to the budget debate on January 23.

The Finance Bill will be taken up on February 19.

Generally, budget session in the State was held either in February-March or March-April. This is, however, for the first time that the session has been advanced to January-February.

According to official sources, entire Government machinery remained busy with the Legislature session in March-April, thus, affecting the development works. The months of January-February are considered to be "lean period" for development works due to cold weather conditions.

Pre-budget discussions including finalisation of annual plan were held in New Delhi few days back between the Chief Minister and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Senior officers of the State had also met Finance Department officers in New Delhi.

The Centre had no reservations on J&K pre-poning the budget session and had agreed to extend its support in early finalisation of plan to help the State Finance Minister in preparing the budget.

On his part, the Finance Minister has also started pre-budget discussions with the bodies of traders and other concerned persons.

Hurriyat ready for talks with Centre

SRINAGAR, Nov 30: The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference today made a fresh offer of talks with the Centre and said the concept of self-rule needed to be debated at the people’s level on either side of the Line of Control.

"We are willing to meet the Indian leadership provided they are willing to do so. There might be some hiccups in the dialogue process but we are hopeful that these would be overcome", former Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said after a meeting of the executive committee of the amalgam here.

He was replying to a question on whether it was willing to hold parleys with the Centre before its leaders proceeded on a proposed visit to Pakistan sometime early next year.

Ahead of the Srinagar round table, the moderate faction leaders had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi in the first week of May this year. It had, however, not participated in the round table.

In an apparent reference to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who came up with the self-rule idea, Bhat said "self-rule is a concept of political thought that recognises people’s right to be architects and masters of their fate and destiny".

Observing that the issue needed to be debated by people on the two sides of Kashmir, he asked "what is self-rule ? is it synonymous with autonomy, total independence or federalism cast in a different frame ? does it include political sovereignty of the people of Jammu and Kashmir?".

On the self-governance proposal of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Bhat said the amalgam supported it as it is "palatable, addresses the sentiments in the context of change and (offers) realistic solution to Kashmir".

He said different people have different interpretation of the self-rule formula.

Sayeed, while recently propagating the self-rule concept, had said the President should not appoint the J&K Governor or have the powers to dismiss a State Government and the Centre should recall its officials allowing the local officials to take charge. He had also suggested regional assemblies for Kashmir, Jammu and Leh areas.

Bhat said "our perception of the formula is that there should be no master and no surrogates. All should be equal. It is not a concession, never a concession".

Asked if Hurriyat supported a call for ceasefire, Bhat said it would take up the issue at an appropriate forum.

He said both India and Pakistan cannot ignore the people of Jammu and Kashmir while hammering out a resolution to the Kashmir issue. The people of the State, he said, also have to move collectively at this crucial juncture. (PTI)

Court dismisses petition by Army officials
in Pathribal killings

SRINAGAR, Nov 30: A Sessions Court today dismissed the revision petition filed by five army officials accused of killing five civilians in a fake encounter at Pathribal village of Jammu and Kashmir in March 2000.

Dismissing the petition, Additional District and Sessions Judge Gousia U N Nisa Jeelani directed them and the Army to appear before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate M Y Akhoon on December 19, the next date of hearing.

The Judge also directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate to give one more opportunity to the Army to decide whether they want to hold court martial proceedings against the accused Army personnel in the Pathribal killings in the wake of Chittisinghpora massacre in March 2000 or let the civil court try them.

Defence counsel Anil Bhan said he is not satisfied with the order and will challenge it in the higher court.

"We are not satisfied with the order. It has to be challenged in the next higher court," Bhan said.

In the last hearing of the case on November 13, Army said it would not be able to initiate court martial proceedings without sanction for prosecution from the Centre against the five accused officials.

The counsel for General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 Corps, arguing a review petition before the Jeelani here, said prior sanction from the Centre was necessary for initiating court martial proceedings against the accused Army personnel.

The CBI had filed a chargesheet on May 11 before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, against Brigadier Ajay Saxena, Lt Col Brahendra Pratap Singh, Major Saurabh Sharma, Major Amit Saxena and JCO Idrees Khan in the Pathribal killings.

The Army counsel and the defence counsel for the accused had contested the CBI chargesheet saying it was not maintainable in the court of law without prior sanction from the Centre.

However, the CJM set aside the objections raised by them observing that the issue of seeking sanction can be decided during the course of the trial or even at its conclusion.

He also gave the GoC of the 15 Corps an option to try the accused officials in the court martial or let the civil courts continue the trial. The Army counsel and the defence counsel challenged the order in the Sessions Court and pleaded for setting it aside.

The defence counsel maintained that since the accused were operating in their area of jurisdiction, any action taken by them was in line of duty. (PTI)

CBI traps Passport Officer

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) today arrested Regional Passport Officer, Jammu, Bakshi Singh and an agent Fizarat Ahmed red-handed while accepting a gratification of Rs 3000 from a civilian of Rajouri for issuing his passport, which was pending for last nine months.

Official sources said the CBI took into custody Bakshi Singh from his office as soon as his agent Fizarat Ahmed of Talab Khatikan accepted Rs 3000 from Basharat Hussain of Rajouri in Gandhi Nagar office of Regional Passport Officer at Jammu.

Bakshi Singh and Basharat were arrested by the CBI in the presence of eye-witnesses and a Magistrate, sources said after a Passport Office UDC Manzoor Ahmed Jan was arrested red-handed by the CBI. Earlier, the Regional Passport Officer had kept an agent to take corruption for making passports.

Bakshi had asked Basharat to make payment to Fizarat Ahmed for making passport. As soon as Basharat made payment, the CBI took Bakshi and Fizarat into custody and sent them to lock-up. A case has been registered against both of them. After the raid, the CBI also raided Bakshi’s house at Poonch House and seized some documents. At the time of arrest Rs 23,000 were also recovered from him, sources said.

Two more arrested with 2 pistols Girl
involved in murder identified

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: In another important day of success against criminals, Jammu Police today arrested two more criminals associated with Mohan Cheer gang and involved in the killing of Sanjay Gupta alias Bittu alias Bakra. Police also succeeded in identifying the girl, who had trapped Bakra on telephone and called him to the house of Dr Rattan Kudiyar where he was gunned down on Saturday morning.

SSP Jammu Mukesh Singh, under whose supervision the racket of criminals has been busted and murder of Bakra worked out within four days, identified the girl involved in the crime as Monika, a B.Ed student and a resident of Talab Tillo. Repeated raids at her house today after she was identified by Mohan Cheer and Vicky Thakur yielded no results. She was absconding from the house. Her family members are being subjected to questioning to ascertain her whereabouts.

Monika was girl friend of Kapil, a gangster, who was also absconding. Monika is being charged with conspiracy to kill Bakra, the SSP Jammu said.

Police today arrested two criminals Sonu of Samba and Deepu son of Rattan Cheer R/o Jhullaka Mohalla. Another criminal with the same identity of Deepu R/o Peer Kho was absconding, Mr Singh said, adding two pistols were recovered from Sonu, who was arrested from Samba. One of the pistols belonged to Mohan Cheer and another was snatched from Bakra by Mohan when he was killed. Cheer had kept both weapons with Sanju while fleeing. Cheer and Vicky Thakur, who were arrested from Delhi yesterday and brought to Jammu in wee hours of this morning, have revealed identity of all their gangsters who were involved in the conspiracy to kill Bakra.

Mr Singh said Deepu of Peer-Kho, who was absconding, had given shot gun to Mohan Cheer and Vicky Thakur while Deepu of Jhullaka Mohalla, who was arrested today, had given pistol to them. Both the weapons were used in killing Bakra. While shot gun was a licensed weapon belonging to Kishore Vaid and had exchanged several hands before reaching Deepu, the pistol was an illegal weapon.

Questioning of Mohan Cheer and Vicky Thakur further revealed that Cheer had planned murder of Bakra along with Bakra’s former associates Palla of Fattu Choughan and Vishal Singh alias Vicky Thakur of Chinta, Bhadarwah, presently putting up at Raipura, Bhalwal. All of them later sought the services of Kapil.

While making a strategy to eliminate Bakra, the accused came across the idea of taking services of a girl to trap Bakra. The idea was developed by Palla. Kapil influenced his girl friend Monika to start talking to Bakra on telephone and pose as she wanted to develop friendship with him. The girl agreed. After ensuring that Bakra had fallen in the influence of Monika within 15 days, the accused planned to give final shape to their plot to kill Bakra.

Monika rang up Bakra on his telephone between 8 am to 8.15 am on Saturday and urged him to reach the house of Dr Rattan Kudiyar as she wanted to get her mother examined from the doctor. The girl executed her task successfully.

Palla was asked to follow the movement of Bakra from his house and keep Cheer and Thakur informed.

On the day of crime, Mohan Cheer, Vicky Thakur, Kapil and Monika assembled near the house of Dr Kudiyar along with their weapons. As Bakra had agreed to come to Dr Kudiyar’s clinic, Kapil went to main road to give an advance warning. As Bakra came out of his house, Palla sounded Kapil on phone, who, in turn, informed Cheer and Thakur. In the meantime, Monika left the spot in a matador.

Police said when Bakra reached the spot and entered the house of Dr Kudiyar to look for the girl, he was overpowered by Cheer and Thakur and gunned down with pistol and shot gun. As Bakra was killed, they fled from the spot leaving shot gun there. However, they took with them one of their pistol and a pistol of Bakra. They fled towards Kalu Chak where they left their scooter at a garage for repair. They then reached Samba and handed over both pistols to Sonu, an auto driver. They then left for Dalhousie where they stayed for one day.

Monika also joined Kapil at Dalhousie while Cheer and Vicky left for Delhi via Jallandhar.

Police hunt for Monika, Kapil, Deepu of Peer Kho and Palla besides some other suspects was on.

Commandant injured, militant killed

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 30: An officiating commandant of Rashtriya Rifles sustained injured in an IED blast at Baramulla where one militant got killed in a gunbattle in Kreeri area today.

Informed sources said that militants targeted the vehicle of the second-in-command and officiating Commanding Officer of RR 46 Bn, Venkataraman, while causing an IED blast at Singh Bagh, Khwaja Bagh, in Baramulla town this afternoon. The officer was returning towards his battalion headquarters from Khwaja Bagh locality. Sources said that the targeted officer had a providential escape when his vehicle was hit but caused only minor injuries to Mr Venkataraman. His driver, Sushil Kumar, also sustained a minor injury.

Sources said that militants appeared to have taken the advantage of some excavation along the roadside and managed to plant the bomb. Police as well as Defence authorities are alarmed at the militants succeeding in reaching the high security military zone and causing the blast just a few yards from Army's TCP at the highway township.

Meanwhile, troops of RR 29 Bn killed an unidentified militant, believed to be a Pakistani national, at Saloosa in Kreeri area of Baramulla district this evening.

RO Gulmarg placed under suspension

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 30: Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Irshad Khan has ordered immediate suspension of Range Officer of Gulmarg, Munshi Iqbal, whose attachment had been recommended by CCF Kashmir over his alleged involvement in illegal felling of conifer trees and timber smuggling in Tangmarg belt.

As reported in this newspaper, Vigilance Organisation and Forest Protection Force (FPF) had seized over 1,000 cft of illegally felled and smuggled conifer timber at Hanjivera and Narbal in the jurisdiction of Pir Panjal Forest Division a couple of days back. Authorities had immediately sealed the two sawmills and sales depots and subsequently recommended action against several officials allegedly responsible for dereliction of duty or complicity in the timber smuggling.

A well-knit timber mafia, enjoying the patronage of some senior politicians and officials, has not only denuded dozens of compartments in Pir Panjal Division, particularly in the last four years, but also swindled huge quantities of Forest Department's and State Forest Corporation's timber in the highly lucrative black-market.

HC finds Sidhu guilty for culpable homicide

CHANDIGARH, : In a major embarrassment to BJP, its high profile MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was today convicted by Punjab and Haryana High Court for the death of a person following a scuffle in 1988, overturning a lower court verdict acquitting him.

Besides 43-year-old Sidhu, the High Court also convicted his accomplice Rupinder Singh Sandhu, who too was acquitted by the lower court.

A division bench comprising Justices Mehtab Singh gill and Baldev Singh found both of them guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder of Gurnam Singh in Patiala on December 27, 1988.

The court fixed December 6 for pronouncing the quantum of sentence, which could be ten years in prison.

Sidhu was in Parliament when the High Court order came. He immediately left the premises and became incommunicado.

After the verdict, Public Prosecutor Vinod Ghai said that he would argue for maximum sentence which is provided under section 304(2) of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

He said under section 304(2), the maximum sentence is ten years jail term and as far as minumum is concerned there is no prescribed period. It depends on the court and facts of the case, he added.

Patiala District and Session Judge had acquitted Sidhu and Sandhu on September 1999. The Punjab Government went to the High Court challenging the lower court verdict. A separate appeal was filed by the son of the victim.

An FIR registered on December 27, 1988 alleged that Sidhu and Sandhu hit Gurnam Singh after dragging him out his car after a road accident.

Sidhu and Sandhu were accused of showering blows on Gurnam Singh after dragging him out of his car and injuring him. Gurnam Singh was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.

In the FIR registered by the family of the victim, who was stated to be a heart patient, it was alleged that Sidhu and Sandhu showered punches and blows on Gurnam Singh after dragging him out of the car.

Sidhu and Sandhu were alleged to have fled from the spot at the Sheranwala Gate with the keys of Singh’s car.

The appeal against the two was admitted by the High Court on November 29, 2000 when bailable warrants were issued against them.

Sidhu and Sandhu were charged by the prosecution under section 304(2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and section 34 (common intention) of IPC.

Patiala District and Sessions Judge acquitted them saying the "case against the accused has not been established beyond doubt". (PTI)