e needing the same proof as a normal court.
The real bank robbers were from KCF (Khalistan Commando Force) most of
whom are now dead from fake police encounters, 10 of the 12 elderly men
convicted were Jathedar's of their villages and have been convicted of
this offence for political reasons. One of the men convicted is 93 which
would mean he would have been nearly 70 at the time of the robbery in
1987.
Hindustan, the nation of Hindus will always mistreat other religions for its own gain and power.
These men need to be released as they are NOT GUILTY. If you have any
respect and love for the elders of our community spread this message and
let the people know.
Ludhiana, Punjab (November 21, 2012):
Dr. Assa Singh, aged 93, could barely walk without support of some other
person. He stood on trial of a 1987 bank robbery case for more than 25
years. Police had accused him for handling money allegedly robbed by
Sikh militants from a Ludhiana branch of Punjab National Bank on
February 12, 1987.
On November 20, 2012 a designated TADA
court convicted him under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities
(Prevention) Act (TADA) for recovery of cash shown against him by the
prosecution and sentenced him to undergo 10 years of imprisonment.
It is significant to note that TADA
ceased to be operative since May 1995 as the Indian State did not dare
to renew it because of massive opposition as this law was being widely
misused.
Assa Singh (93) sentenced by TADA Court in 2012 to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment
Now even after 17 years after the expiry
of TADA, Assa Singh along with 11 others is punished to a sentence that
is considered too harsh for most of the convicts.
Assa Singh, owner of 30 acres of fertile
land near Sham Chaurasi, District Hoshiarpur took part in numerous
political agitations organized by Shiromani Akali Dal, the political
party that represented the Sikhs in India after partition of Punjab in
1947. He was arrested more than six times for being a part of, as well
as for organizing peaceful demonstrations, protests and agitations
against the anti-Sikh policies of the Indian state.
In 1970, one of his sons went to Canada
followed by another in 1977. With the income earned from 30 acres of
land along with money sent by his sons he purchased 21 acres of land in
1980.
According to defense pleaded by Assa
Singh, during the trial, it was the earning of farming as well as money
sent by his sons from Canada, amounting to rupees two lacks that was
seized by the police from their house in the first week of December 1987
along with Gold jewellery, sale deeds, passbooks and other documents.
Assa Singh was kept in illegal custody
and was falsely implicated in Ludhiana Bank robbery case. He was charged
with TADA for the alleged recovery of currency notes amounting to rupee
One Lakh Fifty thousands. The prosecution case alleged that he was a
part of conspiracy to rob the bank though there was nothing to prove the
conspiracy.
He stood on trial for consecutive 25 years.
Few years back he was exempted from
personal appearance in the court due to the fact that he was aged above
90 years and was suffering from old age health problems.
On November 17, 19, 20 in 2012 he was brought to Ludhiana for hearing the final order in this case by his family members.
On November 20, 2012 while all others
charged in this case were standing in the court Bapu Assa Singh was
sitting calmly on a chair meant only for the advocates, as he could not
stand for too long.
When the Additional Sessions cum
designated TADA judge Sunil Kumar Arora pronounced that Assa Singh along
with others is convicted under Section 120-B (IPC) read with section
342, 395, 397 and 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC); u/s 412 IPC and
u/sections 3 (2), 3 (3) and 4 (2) of TADA, all present got stunned. But
the judge had more surprise.
After pronouncing his order holding all
the accused persons guilty for all charges levelled by the prosecution
Judge Sunil Kumar Arora left the court room temporarily. After about
half an hour he returned and pronounced almost similar sentence for all
those who were held guilty, including 93 years old Assa Singh and 83
years old Harbhajan Singh.
Assa Singh at the age of 93 is sentenced
to undergo 7 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 120-B (IPC)
read with section 342, 395, 397 and 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC); 5
years of rigorous imprisonment u/s 412 IPC, and 10 years rigorous
imprisonment each under sections 3 (2), 3 (3) and 4 (2) of TADA. After
pronouncement of the sentence judge left the court room.
Others convicted and sentenced in this
case are Harjinder Singh (47), Daljit Singh Bittu (52), Gursharan Singh
Gamma (57), Balwinder Singh (60), Saroop Singh (63) Gurjant Singh (70),
Mohan Singh (71), Sewa Singh (72)Avtar Singh (75) and Harbhajan Singh
(83).
After pronouncement of sentence finger
prints of Assa Singh were taken and the police personnel helped him to
wake out of the court and get into the jail guard bus waiting outside
the court room.
According to defence lawyer and senior
advocate of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Advo. Puran Singh Hundal,
it’s a faulty and harsh decision. He said charge of TADA was not proved
on file against any of the 12 persons who stood on trial. In the case of
9 persons charged for allegedly keeping the robbed money, there was
nothing on file to prove the charge of 120-B. He told reporters that the
decision is liable to be challenged in the Supreme Court of India.
Commenting on the decision Akali Dal
Panch Pardhani leader Bhai Mandhir Singh told reports that the TADA
court’s decision sentencing Bapu Assa Singh and others to undergo 10
years rigorous imprisonment signifies two facts: firstly that Sikhs are
slaves in India, and secondly that atrocity has been committed by the
Indian court in the name of justice.
“Such a harsh sentence for persons at the last stage of their life is in-fact an act of barbarity” he added.
“These Sikhs are sentenced not for any
act or offence alleged to have been committed by them, but for holding
the political ideology that signifies the quest of self-determination by
Sikhs, during their lifetime” he told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN).
Commenting on the supposed purpose
behind awarding such a harsh sentence, he said: “The motive is clear
that the State want to terrorize the Sikh activists. It (the State) has
sent a clear message that – either abandon the idea of freedom or be
prepared to spend lives in jails”.
