S. Assa Singh (93) VPO Wadala Mahi, Hoshiarpur
Ludhiana/Punjab (November 20, 2012): According to information available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) a TADA designated court of Sunil Kumar Arora, Additional Sessions Judge (Ludhaina) has sentenced 12 Sikhs to undergo ten years imprisonment in a bank robbery case under Terrorist and
S. Harbhajan Singh (83) VPO Sarih, Jalandhar
Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. It took more than 25 years for the trial to conclude in this case.
The incident dates back to 1987. On February 12, 1987 a Ludhiana branch of Punjab National Bank was robbed. Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act was attached with the charge in this case.
S. Avtar Singh (75) VPO Kurali, Jalandhar
S. Sewa Singh (72) VPO Chak Raju Singh, Hoshiarpur
FIR No. 26, dated 12-02-1987, was registered under sections 120-B, 342, 395, 397, 412, 506 of Indian Penal Code; Sections 25, 27 of Arms Act and Sections 3, 4, 6 & Rule 18 of TADA(P) Act 1985 at Police Station Division no 6 Ludhiana.
This case was handed over to CBI on February 17, 1987 as per CBI case No. RC/1/87-SIU-II.
S. Mohan Singh Mohani (71) VPO Katran Kalan, Distt. Jalandhar
S. Gurjant Singh (70) RO Kothe Jang Road, Ludhiana
Facts of the case shows that amount of looted money was 5 crore, 68 lakh, 91 thousand, 4 hundred and 16 rupees (5,68,91,416/-). Police claimed to have recovered money from different persons was 67 Lakh, 8 thousand, 8 hundred and 76 rupees (67,08,876/-).
CBI submitted 3 Challans respectively on 14-07-1988, 22-10-1991 & 24-09-1996.
S. Maan Singh (68) Bhagwan Nagar, Ludhiana
S. Saroop Singh (63) VPO Bisrampur, Jalandhar
In total 45 persons were Challaned by CBI where as 12 persons stood on trial and heard the sentence. It is notable that the court has convicted all in TADA.
Harjinder Singh Kali (47) R/O VPO Latlon, Distt. Ludhiana; Daljit Singh Bittu (52) R/O Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana; Gursharan Singh Gamma (57) R/O VPO Rattan, Distt. Ludhiana; Balwinder Singh (60) R/O VPO
S. Balwinder Singh (60) VPO Tahli, Jalandhar
S. Gursharan Singh Gamma (57) VPO Rattan, Distt. Ludhiana
Tahli, Jalandhar; Mohan Singh Mohani (71) R/O VPO Katran Kalan, Distt. Jalandhar; Saroop Singh (63) R/O VPO Bisrampur, Jalandhar; Gurjant Singh (70) R/O VPO Kothe Jang Road, Ludhiana; Avtar Singh (75) R/O VPO Kurali, Jalandhar; Harbhajan Singh (83) R/O VPO Sarih, Jalandhar; Sewa Singh (72) VPO Chak Raju Singh, Hoshiarpur; Assa Singh (93) R/O
S. Daljit Singh Bittu (52) Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana
S. Harjinder Singh Kali (47) VPO Latlon, Distt. Ludhiana
VPO Wadala Mahi, Hoshiarpur; Maan Singh (68) Bhagwan Nagar, Ludhiana are all sentenced to 10 years under under the provisions of TADA, along with other sentences under Sections 120B, 342, 395, 397, 506 of IPC and Sections 3(2), 3(3), 4(2) TADA.
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Statements by Advocate:
Advocate Puran Singh Hundal (Defense counsel) addressing the media after decision of TADA court on November 20, 2012
Advocate Sexena (CBI’s counsel) welcomed the decision of TADA court.
While talking to the reporters defense councils Advocate Puran Singh Hundal, Advocate Gurmeet Singh Rattu and Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said that the court has failed to appreciate the defense arguments and take flaws of prosecution case in to consideration.
“It’s too harsh decision. Sentencing all persons under TADA, including who are charged just with the recovery of cash is not justifiable in any consideration.” said Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur.
CBI’s counsel Advocate Sexena welcomed the order and sentence awarded by the TADA Court.
Statement by Akali Dal Panch Pardhani:
Bhai Mandhir Singh, Secretary General of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, addressing media outside Ludhaina court on November 20, 2012
Commenting on the decision, Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, Acting President of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani and Bhai Mandhir Singh, Secretary General of ADPP said that it’s a decision pronounced on political consideration. The persons have been sentenced due to their political ideology favouring self-determination for the Sikhs.
Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema said that this decision has revealed that there is no justice for Sikhs in India and it’s a sign of slavery.
“Such a harsh sentence has been pronounced to create fear psychosis among the Sikh political activists”, he added.
“Sentence of 10 years to the persons in their 90s is an atrocity on the name of justice” Mandhir Singh added.