Kharar/ Chandigarh (20 January 2018): A local court in Kharar today heard a 12 years old case against Sikh Political Prisoner Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara. The case was registered at police station (PS) Sadar Kharar under FIR No. 144, dated: 15 June, 2005 u/section 25 of Arms Act and sections 4 and 5 of the Explosives Act. A local magistrate had issued production warrants against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara on 5 August, 2005 but there were no further progress in this case.
Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s counsel Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) that they had come to know about this case few months back after which an application seeking clarification on status of this case was moved in a local court in Kharar on March 1, 2017.
Responding to the application, the Kharar police had told the court that Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara was wanted by it in this case. After which the court issued production warrants to present Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara in this case but the Tihar Jail authorities did not obey the production warrants citing alleged security reasons.
Later the SHO of PS Sadar Kharar told the court that the police could not ensure Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s presence in the court. On 27 November, 2017 the SHO told the court that the Kharar police have consulted high police officials on this matter and it is decided that Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara is not wanted in this case for the time being.
The court of Kharar Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Ekta Uppal resumed the hearing today and took into account the submissions of the police and the defence. The court has fixed February 3, 2018 as the next date for court proceedings on which the court would pronounce its verdict.
It is notable that the Kharar police had booked total five persons, including Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, in this case. While three others were acquitted after the trial, one Paramjit Singh Pola was convicted.