The hunger strike of former militant Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa seems to have helped the Sikh detainees as it entered 42nd day on Wednesday with a militant convicted in former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s murder case in 1995 being released on parole from Burail Jail here.
Gurmeet Singh was released from the high security jail for a four-week parole, officials said. Singh, facing life term in connection with Beant Singh’s murder case, was received by activists of radical outfits, including Dal Khalsa outside the jail premises after his release Wednesday afternoon. The other two convicts — lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh — lodged in Burail Jail are expected to be released on parole on Thursday as paperwork for their parole is under process.
Former militant, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa whose hunger strike entered 42nd day at Gurudwara Amb Sahib in Mohali announced to end his fast Thursday at Akal Takhat, the top temporal seat of Sikhs. Gurbaksh Singh has been on hunger strike demanding release of six Sikh prisoners who have already completed their jail terms after being convicted in former chief minister’s murder case in 1995.
Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh, who had issued an edict on Tuesday asking Gurbax to end his fast, met him at Mohali on Wednesday. The Akal Takhat head impressed upon Gurbaksh to end his fast following which he announced to adhere to the diktat of Akal Takhat by ending his fast at Amritsar.
Out of the six convicts, one lal Singh, who was lodged in Patiala’s Nabha jail, was released on six weeks parole four days back. Another Sikh detainee Waryam Singh lodged in a Uttar Pardesh jail in a different case is also expected to get parole as formalities in this connection are over. Meanwhile, sixth Sikh detainee Gurdeep Singh, lodged in a Karnataka jail in a TADA case will take some time to get parole as his case and paperwork have just been initiated.
Gurmeet Singh, lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh are lodged in Burail jail at Chandigarh after their life conviction in the Beant Singh assassination case. lal Singh was sent behind bars in an Arms Act case by the Gujarat government in 1992. He was later shifted to Nabha jail in Patiala from Gujarat. Waryam was convicted in a separate case in 1990 by a court in Uttar Pardesh while Gurdeep under TADA Act also in 1990 by a court in Karnataka.
Both Opposition Congress and the ruling Akali Dal are on the same page on the issue of release of militants who have completed their sentence. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had maintained that the Sikh detainees must be released on parole and the State Government had taken all necessary steps for their release.
The family members of Beant Singh had also expressed no objection to the release of Sikh detainees.