Amb Sahib/ Chandigarh (December 21, 2013): As per information available with the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) the process of grant of parole (temporary release) of Bhai Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh is nearing completion. According to information shared on Facebook Fans page by Sikh Organization of Prisoners’ Welfare (UK), the process of grant of parole has reached final stage at government level. The Sikh Siyasat News sources have also confirmed this development.
According to SOPW: “This morning (December 21, 2013), Government officials have approached the three Singh’s held in Burail Jail – Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh and Gurmit Singh, with the offer of a parole release. This would allow the prisoners to return home for some 20 to 40 days. As the situation stands at the moment, all three Singh have refused this parole release – their position is that they have served 18 years each and by normal practice they should be granted permanent release.
Also, in normal practice after some time has passed, long-term prisoners are eligible for parole depending on their conduct and behavior. In the whole 18 years they have been imprisoned, these three Singh’s have never before been granted parole release, apart from on two occasions. Once, Shamsher Singh was allowed home for a number of hours on two separate days to attend his daughter’s wedding and fulfil the role of a father on a daughter’s special day, and secondly, after much hard work and effort, SOPW managed to get five hours parole for Lakhwinder Singh to attend his sister’s wedding, in February this year:”.
The SPOW post further reads: “We have spoken to the families of these men and they are adamant that as the original judgement stated, there is nothing to say that these men “are previous offenders or involved in any criminal activity…on the contrary, their act and conduct forces this court to note that they can be responsible citizens of India”. Therefore, this parole release does not go far enough, as they have served their sentences and the time for parole releases has now passed”.
“The situation at the moment is that, respected Senior Advocate, Amar Singh Chahal and Harpal Singh Cheema, are at Burail Jail, negotiating with the authorities and the three prisoners to sort out the arrangements of their release”, SOPW’s latest update on this issue reads.
Sikh Siyasat News sources revealed that Advocate Amar Singh Chahal, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema and family members of the 3 Sikh prisoners met Lakhwinder Singh, Shamsher Singh and Gurmeet Singh in Burrial jail.
“A decision has reportedly been made in this regard, but the organizers of the Bandi Singhs Rihai Morcha have not make the decision public till tomorrow morning” SSN sources revealed.