The Jalandhar additional district and sessions court on Wednesday convicted Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member and former militant Kulbir Singh Barapind and eight others in a 2015 murder case over property dispute and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
There were 13 accused in the case, including Barapind, of which two Mohinder Pal and Thakur Das died, while two others, NRI Resham Chand and Balbir Singh, were declared proclaimed offenders.
In November 2015, Shingara Chand, 55, was shot dead by Barapind at Salaspur village in the district, while three others, Lachhman Dass, Harvilas Kaler and Jeewan Kaler, sustained injuries.
According to the FIR, Lachhman Das of Salaspur told the police that he and his brother Harvilas and Shingara Chand were at his home when he was informed that Mohinder Pal, Barapind and others trespassed on his agriculture land. When they went to the fields, Barapind fired a gunshot and Shingara died on the spot. Shingara had a dispute with NRI Resham Chand over his 12 acres of land.
In June 2006, Barapind was extradited from the US for his alleged involvement in 32 criminal cases. He was later acquitted in three of these cases. He was also booked in the murder case of former minister Darshan Singh, father of former MP and Congress leader Mohinder Singh Kaypee.
Various cases were registered against Barapind under charges of murder, attempt to murder, Arms Act and TADA between 1991 and 1993 in Phillaur, Goraya and Nurmahal areas of Jalandhar district.
In 2014, a Jalandhar court acquitted Barapind in a sedition case registered against him by Goraya police. The case was filed against him in September 2012 for allegedly waging war against the state and indulging into unlawful activities.