Bathinda, Aug. 2 -- A local court has acquitted four persons, including the father of designated pro-Khalistan terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla, accused in the sensational murder of a city-based restaurateur in October 2023. "Aarti Johal, the widow of victim Harjinder Singh Johal and complainant in the case, and two employees of the deceased, Jagmail Singh and Vikram Singh, have not supported the case of the prosecution," said the special court of sessions judge Rajesh Kumar in its order on Thursday. The court termed the trio "hostile" while acquitting Paramjit Singh, Kamaljit Singh, Lovely Singh and Charanjit Singh, Dalla's father, who is named in multiple heinous crimes, including extortion. "The prosecution has not been able to prove its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. The remaining witnesses/official witnesses have proved the formal investigation proceedings. There is no other independent evidence to prove the allegations levelled in the FIR. There is no substantive evidence on record to prove the charges framed against the accused," read the judgment that was released on Friday. On October 28, 2023, the victim, who was the owner of Harman Kulcha shop and a social worker, was sitting on a chair outside his shop in Bathinda city's crowded Mall Road area, when two unidentified persons fired four bullets at him and fled the spot. The broad daylight murder, captured on a CCTV camera, had evoked political outcry, with the Opposition targeting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for deteriorating law and order in the state. The district police had announced a reward of Rs.2 lakh for any information regarding the assailants. Following a probe, police had arrested five persons for the crime. The fifth accused, a juvenile, was also acquitted by the same court on March 18 this year, as Aarti did not level any allegation against him. Though a juvenile, he was declared to be treated as an adult for the trial by the Juvenile Justice Board, Bathinda. In its order, the court had stated, "In the absence of any substantive incriminating evidence on the record, the prosecution has miserably failed to prove the charged offences against the juvenile."...