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.
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.