Makhan case: Too many unanswered questions

August 26: AS the mystery of the alleged kidnapping of Makhan Singh deepens, questions of how Makhan Singh went abroad, through which agent and by paying how much money, assume importance. Also, does Makhan owe lakhs of rupees to the person through whom he went abroad?

If Makhan Singh’s family members are to be believed, they have no answers to these questions. Rather, his father Karam Singh told Newsline today that Makhan Singh had told the family about going to South Africa merely a day before he was to board the flight. “He came home that night and told us that he was going to South Africa. Despite our queries, he said nothing and demanded money. We gave him around Rs 1.5 lakh, which he took and went away,� Makhan’s father said.

Makhan Singh left for South Africa on October 5 and after two months, he called his parents and asked for money, saying his house had been burgled and all his money and belongings stolen. “As he was left with no money there, we sent him clothes and some money through a Sector 35 resident who was going to South Africa,� added Makhan’s father.

Though Makhan told his parents that he was going to South Africa on a work permit, the family has no information about his job. “We have no information about his job profile and he never even sent us any money from there,� said Makhan’s family. Makhan’s brother Sukhdev Singh also reportedly met DGP S.S. Virk regarding the case today.

Meanwhile, the Bathinda police have allegedly “illegally detained� the family members of three “kidnappers� belonging to Bathinda and Jethuke villages.

On the basis of Punjab Police intelligence inputs, cops identified four persons who allegedly kidnapped Makhan Singh. They are: Guninder Singh, alias Rimmi; Paramjit Singh; Jassi and Karan Sandhu. Of these four, Karan Sandhu has reportedly been killed by his accomplices.

Kharar MLA Bir Devinder today visited Makhan’s family at Kumbra village and assured speedy investigations in the case.