Patiala, Punjab (January 21, 2013): As
per information available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) Bhai Balwant
Singh Rajoana was brought out of Patiala jail for the first time after
the postponement of death sentence in March 2012.
Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana court appearance at Rajpura on January 21, 2013
It is notable that Balwant Singh Rajoana
had admitted during the trial of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh
assassination case that he, along with Shaheed Dilawar Singh, had
assassinated Beant Singh. In a hand written statement he said that CM
Beant Singh was responsible for ordering mass level atrocities against
the civilian Sikh population of Punjab during his tenure as Punjab CM.
He refused to contest his case in the Indian courts expressing no faith
in Indian system or judiciary. He was sentenced to death by the trial
court but the sentence was subject to the confirmation of Punjab and
Haryana Hight Court. The High Court had also confirmed the sentence
awarded by the trial court.
In March 2012, a Chandigarh court had
issued execution warrants of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana directing the
Patiala Jail authorities to execute him on March 31, 2012. But later the
execution was postponed as certain political parties had approached the
President of India seeking commutation of death sentence in this case.
The President of India has taken no decision so far.
Since March 2012 Bhai Balwant Singh
Rajoana was not moved out of the Central Jail, Patiala to appear before
the some local courts, where certain matters are pending against him.
But as per recent reports Bhai Rajoana
was produced in a Rajpura court on January 21, 2013 by the Patiala
polcie in FIR no. 116/95 under Explosives Act. He was presented before
Additional session judge Sanjeev Beri’s court and the court has
reportedly fixed January 28, 2012 as next date for hearing.
As per information available with Sikh
Siyasat News (SSN) Bhai Rajoana was also presented in the court of judge
Ravinder Singh where is facing a trial for FIR no. 302 of 1995 under
Arms Act. The court has reportedly fixed February 04, 2013 as next date
of hearing in this matter.
Various media sections have reported
that tight security arrangements were made by Punjab police in wake of
Rajoana’s court appearance. Shaminder Singh, SHO of Police station
Lahori Gate (Patiala) was reportedly commanding the security
arrangements under the supervision of SP City Daljit Singh Rana.
As per media reports a police officer
named ASI Boparai misbehaved with the media persons, particularly with
the cameramen. Arvind Thakur of PTC News channel reportedly told “Jag
Bani” (a daily newspaper published from Jalandhar) that he possessed the
recording of ASI Boparai abusing the media persons.