General News
Bhai Rajoana neither hanged, nor shifted to Tihar, still in Patiala Jail; Sister accuses Indian agencies for rumors
March 7, 2013 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
Patiala, Punjab (March 07, 2013): There were rumours in circulation for past 24 hours that Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana was either hanged in secrecy by Indian government or he had been shifted to Delhi’s Tihar Jail for the hanging.
Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana (quote from Will)
Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur sister of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana has accused Indian intelligence agencies for plotting these rumours. In a statement carried by a Punjabi vernacular Pehredar, Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur has maintained that Indian agencies were spreading misinformation to promote their ulterior motives.
It is further learnt that Punjab police has also dismissed reports that Balwant Singh Rajoana, has been shifted to Delhi.
“Punjab police today dismissed as baseless reports that Balwant Singh Rajoana, on death row for assassination of former Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995, has been shifted to New Delhi”, reports Outlook India (March 07, 2013).
Additional Director General of Punjab police (Prisons) Rajpal Meena reportedly said the claims that Rajoana was secretively shifted to New Delhi last night were “totally baseless and far-away to reality” and he was still lodged in Patiala jail.
“Intelligence and jail sources here said Rajoana is lodged in his barrack and went through his daily routine this morning” Outlook India report added.
It is notable that the Rajya Sabha, upper house of Indian Parliament was informed yesterday that constitutional review petitions of nine death row prisoners, including Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, are currently pending with the government.
It is further notable that Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana had appeared before the court on March 2 through video conferencing and court had fixed March 16 as the next date of hearing in connection with an Arms Act case registered in Sadar police station here.
Due to security concerns, Patiala central jail authorities have used video conferencing mode to produce Rajoana before court, officials said.
A local court in December 2012 had passed orders to hear Rajoana’s case through video conferencing and he was to be presented in the court on January 15 this year.
However, Rajoana refused to use this mode and demanded that he be presented in person.
Following the request of Rajoana, the court had agreed to his demand and police presented Rajoana on January 21 this year amid tight security. Since police had to make huge security arrangements during every court hearing, Rajoana could not be presented in courts on many dates due to lack of security and VVIP visits to Patiala city, police said.
Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence was confirmed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and a Chandigarh court had issued his execution warrants for March 31 last year.
However, before the date of execution, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee and SAD leaders moved a constitutional review petition under Article 72 of the Constitution urging clemency for Rajoana.
As a procedural effect of the petition moved before President of India, Rajoana’s hanging was indefinitely postponed.
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Related Topics: Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana, Bibi Kamaldeep Kaur, Death Penalty, Indian State, Patiala
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