<p>A special CBI court on Monday sentenced 47 UP cops to life imprisonment on charges of killing ten Sikh pilgrims in a fake encounter in state’s Pilibhit district, about 300 kilometres from here, after branding them terrorists 25 years ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to the sources, besides sentencing the guilty to life imprisonment, a hefty fine has also been imposed on the convicts. A fine of Rs 10 lakh has been imposed on the then Station House Officer (SHO) and Rs eight lakh on the Sub-Inspector.<br /><br />The court also ordered a payment of Rs 11 lakh as compensation to the victims’ families. According to the prosecution, on July 12, 1991, the cops had intercepted a bus carrying 25 Sikh pilgrims near Kachla Ghat area in Pilibhit and dragged ten men out of the van. The bodies of the men were recovered from different areas in the district the next day. The cops claimed that they were Khalistani militants and were killed in encounters with the police.<br /><br />The court however, said that they had been killed in “cold blood”. The killings were investigated by the CBI on the order of the Supreme Court. It later turned out that the cops had gunned down the men in the hope of getting promotion and awards. </p>
<p>A special CBI court on Monday sentenced 47 UP cops to life imprisonment on charges of killing ten Sikh pilgrims in a fake encounter in state’s Pilibhit district, about 300 kilometres from here, after branding them terrorists 25 years ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to the sources, besides sentencing the guilty to life imprisonment, a hefty fine has also been imposed on the convicts. A fine of Rs 10 lakh has been imposed on the then Station House Officer (SHO) and Rs eight lakh on the Sub-Inspector.<br /><br />The court also ordered a payment of Rs 11 lakh as compensation to the victims’ families. According to the prosecution, on July 12, 1991, the cops had intercepted a bus carrying 25 Sikh pilgrims near Kachla Ghat area in Pilibhit and dragged ten men out of the van. The bodies of the men were recovered from different areas in the district the next day. The cops claimed that they were Khalistani militants and were killed in encounters with the police.<br /><br />The court however, said that they had been killed in “cold blood”. The killings were investigated by the CBI on the order of the Supreme Court. It later turned out that the cops had gunned down the men in the hope of getting promotion and awards. </p>
