Punjab Police Officer Imprisoned Over Jaswant Singh Khalra Killing Escapes From Nabha Jail

New Delhi: Several police officers convicted in the murder case of Jaswant Singh Khalra—the real-life figure behind the film 'Satluj'—were sentenced to life imprisonment. One of these officers, a DSP, was released on bail in 2023. He is no longer present at the address recorded in jail records. 

Who is Jaswant Singh Khalra? 

In 1995, human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra was abducted from his home by the police and murdered after being subjected to torture. The absconding former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) is named Jaspal Singh. He had been incarcerated in Nabha Jail.
Jaspal Singh was released on bail in 2023. The case has regained public attention following the release—and subsequent removal—of the film 'Satluj' (based on Khalra's life) on ZEE5. Consequently, a verification check was conducted at the request of jail authorities.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jaswinder Singh of the Sadar Police Station stated that jail authorities had requested—via an official letter—verification of whether Jaspal Singh was residing in Manjhi village (Hoshiarpur district), the address listed in jail records.

How did Jaspal Singh escape? 

The ASI reported that when the police arrived at the village, the Sarpanch and local residents stated that Jaspal Singh was not living there. Station House Officer (SHO) Baljinder Singh Malhi confirmed that Jaspal Singh had been released from Nabha Jail on interim bail on May 27, 2023, pursuant to a court order. He stated that the verification process confirmed the individual was not residing at the address recorded in the jail documents.

What happened to the film 'Satluj'? 

The film starring Diljit Dosanjh, now titled 'Satluj', was originally named 'Punjab '95'. Diljit Dosanjh plays the role of Khalra in the movie. The film was released on ZEE5 on July 3 but was removed from the platform two days later. Directed by Honey Trehan, this film depicts the investigation conducted by Khalra, in which he exposed how thousands of bodies were "illegally" cremated by the police—labeling them as "unidentified"—during the peak of militancy in the state.
Two convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Khalra was abducted from outside his home in Amritsar in September 1995. It was later revealed that he had been murdered, though his body was never recovered. In November 2005, a CBI court sentenced former DSP Jaspal Singh and ASI Amarjit Singh to life imprisonment, while four other police personnel were sentenced to seven years in prison each. 
Amarjit Singh was acquitted.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Amarjit Singh in 2007 and enhanced the sentences of the four other convicts to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court upheld this verdict in 2011.