Chandigarh2 hours ago
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Chandigarh’s Burail Jail. (file)
Former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, the killer of 16 others, including terrorist Lakhwinder Singh, imprisoned in Burail Jail, has gone on a hunger strike. Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) general secretary Karnail Singh has reached Panjauli today to meet him. He is accompanied by two more SGPC members.
An officer of Burail Jail said that Lakhwinder Singh has been on hunger strike for the last 15 days. He has been put on a liquid diet. His medical test is also being done. His limbs are completely immobile. He has sought premature release. He has also applied for parole. His parole is being considered. At the same time, according to sources, Lakhwinder Singh may get parole soon. Officers are looking into his case file.
Panjauli reached Burail Jail in his car this morning to meet Lakhwinder Singh.
Let us inform that 16 people including Beant Singh were killed in the bomb blast on 31 August 1995. The court had convicted Jagtar Singh Hawara, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Shamsher Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Gurmeet Singh under sections of murder, attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy.
In July 2007, Lakhwinder Singh and other accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Chandigarh District Court in the Beant Singh murder case. Apart from these, Naseeb Singh was convicted under the Explosive Substance Act. Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana were sentenced to death. However, Hawara’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. A terrorist named Dilawar Singh had come as a human bomb.
The case was heard in the special court of Additional Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Sondhi. Jagtar Singh Tara was a fugitive during that time. The trial of Paramjit Singh Bhyaura was run separately. In January 2004, Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjit Singh Bhiora and Jagtar Singh Hawara escaped from Burail Jail with a 94 feet long tunnel.
In March 2010, Paramjit Singh Bhiora was given life imprisonment. He was convicted of criminal conspiracy. After escaping from jail, Bhyaura was caught by the Delhi Police. Similarly, Jagtar Singh Tara was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Chandigarh Court in March 2018. After escaping from prison, he was caught from Thailand in the year 2015.