Patiala, Punjab: A Patiala court yesterday framed charges against by Jagtar Singh Tara and Ramandeep Singh Goldy in former Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS) chief Rulda Singh murder case. Ramandeep Singh Goldy was brought to the Patiala from Nabha jail where is Jagtar Singh Tara attended the court hearing from Burail jail Chandigarh through video conferencing.
Rulda Singh, president of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat- a wing of Hindutva fountainhead RSS, was reportedly was reportedly shot at outside his residence in Patiala on July 28, 2009. He was rushed to the local Rajindra Hospital and from there to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, where he died on August 15, 2009.
The police registered a case against unidentified persons on July 29, 2009. It initially arrested four persons, but later let them go. Later in September 2009, the police arrested Darshan Singh Makaropur, Jagmohan Singh, Daljeet Sing, Gurjant Singh and Amarjeet Singh from different places. The police claimed that two persons who had opened fire at Rulda Singh had come from the UK and had escaped after the murder. Five persons had facilitated their stay in India, provided them arms and informed them of Rulda Singh’s daily schedule. They had helped the assassins target the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat leader.
The police claimed that these five persons were paid by the assassins for their role.
Two persons were arrested in the UK after the Indian government took up the matter with the British authorities. Thereafter, a three-member UK police team visited India in 2010 and met one of the accused, Jagmohan Singh, in the Patiala jail. At least 100 witnesses were summoned by the court and the statements of 55 recorded. Arguments in the case had begun in February, 2015.
Case is already acquitted against Five persons:
On February 27, 2015 five persons named by the police in this case were acquitted by the trial court. Police has also framed Jagtar Singh Tara and Ramandeep Singh Goldy in this case and trial against them is still pending.
About Rashstriya Sikh Sangat:
Rashtriya Sikh Sangat – a controversial wing of Hindutva fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was declared an ‘anti-Sikh body’ by the then Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti and other four Sikh Jathedars in 2004. The 2004 declaration had put a stop on activities of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat but with the rise of Hindutva forces after 2014 Lok Sabha elections in India, the Sangh (RSS) has revived the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat.