Devil’s Advocate continues ………….

After protracted hearings the court pronounced its verdict. In its final order, the Delhi High Court, far from indicting us, appreciated the police action and observed that had it not been for the police firing, there would have been mayhem in INA market. It was a historic verdict in our favour. What began as an anti-police tirade ended up becoming a feather in our cap. Relief and joy were writ large on the faces of the south district police officers.

Gurcharan Singh drove down to my office soon after the verdict was delivered. I received him outside my office, hugged him and thanked him profusely for what he had achieved on our behalf. If not for his dedication, hard work and rare calibre, this day would have eluded us. The dignified lawyer was happy but humble as we lavished him with praise and appreciation for his unwavering support at a time when the rest of his brethren had deserted us. He said, ‘You people did your job well and I tried to do mine as well as I could.’

In the months that followed, as it usually happens, both of us became preoccupied with our respective worlds. Contact between us gradually diminished, until the phone by my bedside rang late one night.

On 6 June 1991, less than a year since we had first met, I was jolted awake by the shrill ringing of the telephone. A relative of Gurcharan Singh was on the line, and he said he had bad news for me. His voice quivered as he spoke. He told me that earlier that evening my friend had been shot dead by three unknown assailants. I couldn’t believe what I heard. What, who, how, why were some of the questions I needed the answers to. The grief-stricken caller hung up. I was left in a state of shock by the suddenness of it all.


To be Continued ………….