In Punjab, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mohali sentenced five retired Punjab Police officers to life imprisonment in over three decades old case of fake encounter of seven youths in Tarn Taran in 1993. The case was registered by the CBI on 30 June, 1999. Five more accused police personnel have already died.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment include a former Bathinda SSP, former DSP, former Inspector and two former Assistant Sub Inpsectors (ASIs). They were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment, Rs 3.50 lakh fine each for criminal conspiracy, murder, destruction of evidence and forgery. The fine will be given to the families of the deceased as compensation.

The accused were found guilty of staging two encounters in July 1993, where the victims, including three Special Police Officers (SPOs) were illegally picked up, tortured and then shown as killed in encounters. Despite knowing their identity, all seven were cremated as unclaimed.