CALL IT unwillingness or inability of the Khorabar police that a High Court order, convicting a history-sheeter in a murder case and subsequently sentencing him to life imprisonment remained unimplemented for over two months.
Sources said that the criminal identified as Chhotku Kewat, a resident of Mahewa Mandi, was roaming freely and creating terror in the area during this period.
The sources also said that the criminal also kept operating as kingpin of the illegal hooch trade flourishing in the area.
The sources said that it was because of the very trade that the criminal was regularly in touch with the policemen concerned who continued to turn a blind eye towards the High Court order for such a long period.
It may be recalled that Chhotku Kewat along with Sanehi Kewat, both residents of Mahewa, were sentenced to life imprisonment by the lower court in a case of murder of Ram Deo, also a resident of Mahewa.
The murder took place way back on July 1, 1978. Subsequently, the lower court in 1981 sentenced the two to life imprisonment.
However, both moved the High Court from where also they did not get any relief. A warrant was issued by the High Court to put Chhotku Kewat and Sanehi behind bars on December 20, 2004. The warrant was received by the Khorabar police on December 21, said sources.
Interestingly, the Khorabar police arrested Sanehi and sent him to jail, leaving Chhotku to roam freely.
The sources said that Chhotku, a history-sheeter, was also involved in attacking policemen on two occasions. On December 28, 2003, he had allegedly attacked the Phal Mandi outpost in-charge Amrendra Rai. Besides, he had also attacked a constable of Rajghat police station.
The history-sheeter allegedly kept terrorising the people of the area under the patronage of the policemen. However, it was only when the matter was reported to senior police officials, including SSP BB Bakshi and SP City Dilip Kumar that the Khorabar police became active and after a couple days to be precise on March 12 this year, Chhotku Kewat was arrested and sent to jail.
