New Delhi: Darbara Singh, a former Indian Air Force employee known infamously as the "baby killer," died on June 6, 2018, at the age of 75. Singh's transition from a Air Force employee to a ruthless criminal shocked the nation, leaving a trail of fear and tragedy.
Early Life And Removal From The Air Force
Darbara Singh was stripped of his services in 1975 after a vicious attack on the house of senior officer VK Sharma. The attack carried out with a hand grenade at the Pathankot Air Base, resulted in injuries to Sharma's wife and son.
Born in 1952 in Beas, Punjab's Amritsar, Singh was a father of three children. His wife fed up with his despicable behaviour, had thrown him out of their home, unknowingly setting the stage for his future infamy as the "baby killer," as per Times Of India.
After being removed from the Air Force, Singh resurfaced in 1996 as a criminal, committing the heinous act of raping and killing the daughter of a migrant worker in Kapurthala. The following year, Singh was convicted in three cases of rape and attempted murder, resulting in a 30-year jail sentence pronounced by the Kapurthala court.
However, Singh's release from jail came sooner due to the acceptance of his mercy petition for good conduct on December 3, 2003.
Chilling Kidnappings And Murders Targeting Migrant Workers' Children
Singh's thirst for revenge against the migrant labourers led him to kidnap and brutally murder their children. Between April and October 2004, 23 children disappeared from Kapurthala city, sending shockwaves through the region. Most of the victims were below the age of 10 and children of migrant labourers. The police managed to recover six of the missing children, as reported by India TV.
Darbara Singh was arrested based on substantial evidence, according to Jansatta. Following his arrest in 2004, Singh told the then Jalandhar SSP that if he had not been arrested by the police “so soon” then he would have killed more children of the migrant labourers, according to a report in India TV.
During his arrest, Singh made a chilling confession, admitting to the murder of 17 children - 15 girls and 2 boys. His crimes were not limited to murder but included sexual assault, as per a report in AajTak.
Modus Operandi And Conviction: How Killer Darbara Singh Lured Children In His Trap
Singh's modus operandi involved luring children with enticing offerings like sweets, samosas, and crackers while travelling on his bicycle. He carefully timed his kidnappings between 10 AM and 12.30 PM when most of the migrant labourers were occupied in factories.
Police investigations unveiled harrowing details as Singh revealed that he disposed of most victims' bodies near a bridge on the Rayya-Khadoor Sahib road in Punjab after sexually assaulting them.
Serial Killer's Death: Family Refuses To Claim Body
In 2008, Singh received a death sentence and was transferred to Patiala jail. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court later commuted his sentence to life imprisonment in 2009, as reported by TOI.
The story took a sombre turn when Singh passed away on June 6, 2018, at the age of 75 while serving his life sentence at the government Rajindra Hospital, according to TOI.
After his death, the authorities sought to inform his family about his demise, but they declined to claim his body, labelling his crimes as "unpardonable."
Rajan Kapoor, Jail Superintendent of Patiala, conveyed, "We had asked the Jalandhar police to request his wife and children to claim the body, but they have refused to do so." Kapoor further added, "We will now approach the local court for permission to cremate the body," as quoted by The Tribune.