Chandigarh: It is learnt that a Chandigarh court today granted bail to Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara in Burail jail break case. The Chandigarh police were asking for his 14 days police remand but the court did not entertain the remand plea. He was produced in the court of the duty magistrate, Harpreet Kaur, at district courts complex, Sector 43.
As Jagtar Singh Tara did not furnish his bail surety, he was remanded in the judicial custody.
During today’s hearing at Chandigarh, the public prosecutor tired convince the court to grant police remand of Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara, defense counsel, advocate Amar Singh Chahal, said that most of the charges against Tara have been dropped and prosecution can not claim police custody under the current charge levelled under Section 224 of IPC.
The court proceedings including argument between defense counsel and public prosecutor lasted for around six hours in different parts. Tara was brought to district courts complex-43 under tight police security cover of Punjab police and commandos of Chandigarh police around 11 am. He was remanded in judicial custody to Model Burail jail around 4.30 pm.
It is notable that Jagtar Singh Tara was recently arrested in Thailand and he was sent to India after the Supreme Court of Thailand cleared his extradition. In Chandigarh Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara faces a case under Section 224 (escapes from lawful detention) of IPC, which is a bailable offence. He also faces Punjab Chief Minsiter Beant Singh’s assassination case, besides various other cases framed by the Punjab police.
Jagtar Singh Tara was facing trail in Beant Singh case when he, along with three others, escaped from jail after digging about 109 feet long tunnel inside the jail dates back in January, 2004. Two others escapee including Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjeet Singh Bheroa had earlier been arrested.
It may be recalled that CM Beant Singh’s regime was responsible for unleashing the region of state-terror on people of Punjab. Mass level atrocities and human rights violations were committed by the Punjab police and other security forces during Beant Singh’s tenure as Punjab CM. Beant Singh’s assassination is considered to be an act prompted by existential concerns of the Sikh nation.