Amid the controversy surrounding the film Satluj, the spotlight has once again turned to the convicts in the murder case of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.The Nabha Open Agricultural Jail has asked the Hoshiarpur Police to trace the whereabouts of ex-DSP Jaspal Singh, who was convicted in the Khalra murder case.Confirming this, Assistant Sub Inspector Jaswinder Singh of Hoshiarpur Sadar Police Station said ASI Surinder Pal Singh had been directed to locate Jaspal Singh at his native village.Serving a life sentence, Jaspal Singh was released on bail from the Nabha Open Agricultural Jail in May 2023 after furnishing a personal bond and a surety of Rs 1 lakh.According to information, the Punjab Government sent a proposal for Jaspal Singh’s premature release to the Governor in September 2022.A senior jail official said the Governor has not yet taken a decision on the proposal.He explained that, under a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment in a contempt case (COCP No. 2020/2022), if the Governor does not decide on the government’s proposal within three months, the prisoner is to be released on bail until a decision is taken.Based on the judgment, Patiala Chief Judicial Magistrate Navdeep Kaur Gill ordered Jaspal Singh’s release on bail.During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jaspal Singh, along with other prisoners, was granted parole.In 2021, Jaspal Singh filed a petition in the High Court seeking premature release. However, he withdrew the petition in August 2022, following which the court directed him to surrender by August 16, 2022. He has spent most of his imprisonment in the open jail.In 2005, the then CBI court in Patiala convicted those accused in the 1995 abduction and murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.DSP Jaspal Singh and ASI Amarjit Singh were sentenced to life imprisonment, while SHOs Surinderpal Singh, Jasbir Singh, Satnam Singh and Head Constable Prithipal Singh were awarded seven years’ imprisonment.During the appeal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court upheld Jaspal Singh’s life sentence, acquitted Amarjit Singh, and enhanced the sentences of the remaining four convicts from seven years to life imprisonment.