Fake encounter: Bail pleas of 34 ex-PAC cops rejected

One-liner: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC has rejected the bail pleas of 34 former constables of Provincial Armed Constabulary accused of killing 10 Sikh men in a fake encounter in 1991.

No justification: The gruesome murder of the deceased can't be in any manner justified, the bench said.

On procedure: More so, if some of the deceased were involved in criminal cases, then also the procedure established by law should have been adhered to, it said.

Hearing on July 25: A bench passed the order while deciding the bail pleas moved by the appellants individually. The court fixed July 25 as the next date for the hearing.

Pilgrims' bus stopped: According to the prosecution, on July 12, 1991, a bus boarding Sikh pilgrims was stopped near Pilibhit by a team of UP Police of Pilibhit district.

10 killed: They brought down 10-11 Sikh youths from the bus and boarded them in their police bus. The 10 Sikh youths, who alighted from the pilgrims' bus, were killed by the police.

Child missing: The 11th one was a child whose whereabouts could not be traced and his parents were given compensation by the state.

Closure report filed: Initially, the investigation was conducted by Pilibhit police, and a closure report was filed. 

Probe entrusted to CBI: However, the SC entrusted the investigation of the incident relating to the encounter to the CBI.

• The CBI booked 57 people, but 10 of them died pending trial.

Convicted: The special CBI judge convicted 47 accused under Sections 302 (murder) along with criminal conspiracy and other Sections of the IPC.

Source: PTI