Punjab: Bhim Tank murder case, main culprit in hospital instead of jail

Punjab: The Punjab prisons department on Thursday ordered the formation of a board of doctors to examine one of the prime convicts in the Bhim Tank murder case, who was admitted to a private hospital in Chandigarh instead of returning to jail on completion of parole on March 22. Harpreet Singh alias Harry, one of the convicts in the Bhim Tank murder case, broke his parole period and fled abroad, reportedly using a fake passport and fleeing to Dubai. While abroad, he released a video in which he allegedly threatened to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing issues related to farmers. In the video, he also challenged the Prime Minister to hold a rally in Punjab, claiming that he and his associates were armed. Bhim Tank was an employee of liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda. In December 2015, Doda’s goons chopped off Bhim’s hands and legs at a farmhouse in Doda after he refused to work. He reportedly died of bleeding. Shiv Lal Doda (centre). File photo In August 2019, the court of Additional Sessions Judge Jaspal Verma in Fazilka had convicted 24 persons for their involvement in the killing. These included: Shiv Lal Doda: Convicted for murder, conspiracy and other charges.

Amit Doda: Shiv Lal Doda’s nephew, for conspiracy. Apart from Bhim Tank’s family, his friend Gurjant Singh, who was injured in the attack on Bhim Tank, has complained of receiving threats from Shiv Lal Doda. The main convict Shiv Lal Doda is also on 56-day parole, which ends on April 12. IG-Prisons Roop Kumar, who heard questions asked by the media about Amit Doda, said that as per the jail manual the convict was authorised 56-day parole, “As per Ropar jail records, he had sent an email to jail authorities on March 12 that he has been hospitalised due to ill health. We have asked the Chandigarh health department to form a board of doctors, which will examine whether he requires hospital treatment or not?” The prison department’s orders came following media queries about the parole status of Shiv Lal Doda and Amit Doda. While lodged in the Fazilka sub-jail, Shiv Lal Doda was accused of holding “darbars” or unauthorised meetings with outsiders. Reports suggest that he held a pre-poll meeting in jail, which led to legal action against him and others. The incident raised concerns about misuse of prison facilities and the influence of powerful individuals.