Beant killing: First witness testifies

CHANDIGARH, Feb 15: With Superintendent of Police, CM (Security), D. K. Tripathi today deposing before the court of UT District and Sessions Judge B. S. Bedi, the first witness in Paramjeet vs State case was partially examined. Paramjeet, an accused in the Beant assassination case, was arrested from Jammu last year after over 60 witnesses had been examined in the case. His trial was also separated from the main trial.

Tripathi stated today that on August 31, 1995, he was on duty at the Chief Minister’s residence. Within five to seven minutes of addressing a public meeting, the Chief Minister left for the Civil Secretariat at 1.20 p.m. He added that at about 4.20 p.m. the CM’s steno informed him that the CM wanted to go to the UT Guest House. He confirmed the fact from CM’s personal assistant, who told him that the CM would be leaving at 5 p.m.

Tripathi added that the CM came down at 5.05 p.m., accompanied by his friend Ranjodh Singh Mann, and when they reached the VIP gate, ASI Jagdish Singh moved to open the car’s back door. The CM then told Mann that he could not talk to him. Tripathi said that when the CM was inside the car, his family doctor Dr. Anil Duggal expressed the desire to talk to him.

Tripathi added that he stepped back, with instructions to the ASI to shut the door. He had moved barely four yards when there was a powerful explosion, following which he became unconscious, he said. He regained consciousness at the PGI and was discharged from there on September 25, 1995. The cross examination of the witness will continue tomorrow.