Indians on death row in Dubai strike blood money deal

Chandigarh/Dubai, July 20
Seventeen Indian youths, 16 from Punjab and one from Haryana, facing death sentence for the murder of Pakistani boy Mishri Khan may be released soon. The Sharjah Appeal Court was informed today that the process for “Diya”, payment of blood money, had been initiated.
After Dubai-based Punjabi businessman SP Singh Oberoi produced a receipt of payment of the first installment of 1 million Pakistani rupees to Sarfraz Ahmed, brother of the victim, the court directed the defendants to complete the “Diya” proceedings before the next hearing on July 27.
The youths on death row are: Sukhjinder Singh of Patti, Sukhjot Singh of Sanghera, Ram Singh of Kanvi, Amritsar, Arvinder Singh of Ghokulwada, Gurdaspur, Baljeet Singh of Sangwal in Jalandhar, Daljeet Singh of Aitiana in Ludhiana, Dharampal Singh of Jhoke Tehal Singhwala in Ferozepur, Satgur Singh of Khanaur Jattan in Sangrur, Satnam Singh of Koolikalan in Ludhiana, Kashmir Singh of Rattu Ke in Taran Tarn, Suban Singh of Lohian Khas in Kapurthala, Kulwinder Singh of Bansipura in Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh of Kukrana in Moga, Sukhinder Singh of Nikki Miani in Kapurthala, Namjyot Singh of Raikot in Ludhiana, Harjinder Singh of Phagwara and Taranjit Singh of Kaithal.
A battery of lawyers engaged bv the Indian Consulate-General in Dubai had filed an appeal against the death sentence awarded to them for killing Mishri Khan in a brawl in 2009. While the proceedings in the appeal case were in progress, the court asked the defendents if they were willing to go for settlement with the family of the victim.
While the defence team informed the court that it would seek directions from the Indian Consulate-General, the convicts opted for a “compromise”. All have been in jail for more than two years now.
At the last two hearings, the nominee of the victim’s family, Mohammed Ramzan, had told the court that none had approached him for a settlement. Today he told the court that a compromise had been reached for payment of eight crore Pakistani rupees to the family.
Oberoi told The Tribune on the telephone that frantic efforts were on since the past 10 days to convince the family of Mishri Khan to opt for a compromise. The payment of the first instalment of blood money was organised through Lahore-based Khalid Mohammed Khalid. The compromise was facilitated by PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh and his associates Sukhwinder Singh Chhina and Gursharan Singh.
The full and final amount would be made in court on July 27 after which the death sentence would be waived.
“We are thankful to Capt Amarinder Singh. Last year he met the boys at the Sharjah Jail and promised to help them. He has kept his word. We are also thankful to Sukhwinder Singh Cheena and Gursharan Singh for their help,” Oberoi added.