'DGP to ensure ex-militant's presence in trial court'

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab's director general of police (DGP) to ensure that former militant Kulbir Singh Barapind is present in the Phillaur trial court to record his statement on the next hearing of a case against him.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab's director general of police (DGP) to ensure that former militant Kulbir Singh Barapind is present in the Phillaur trial court to record his statement on the next hearing of a case against him.

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The direction came on Monday during the resumed hearing of a regular bail petition by Barapind, member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) and also the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) from Phillaur.He is in the high-security jail at Nabha in a case registered at Goraya in Jalandhar district on September 21, 2012, under laws dealing with explosives, unlawful activities, and arms.

In April last year, the trial court had rejected his bail petition, and he had, later, moved the high court, alleging political motive behind his arrest. During the hearing, Barapind's counsel argued that the state government had faulted in complying with the high court directions for producing all witnesses and not taken Barapind to the trial court on the last hearing.

In 2006, Barapind was extradited from the US on militancy-related charges, put on trial in three cases, and acquitted in all.