Beant’s killer among 8 Sikhs held under Tada to be freed?

CHANDIGARH: The Centre has announced release of eight Sikh prisoners, who were sentenced during militancy in Punjab under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, as a ‘humanitarian gesture’ on Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary. Tada was in force between 1985 and 1995.
The ministry of home affairs also announced that the death sentence of a Sikh prisoner was commuted to life imprisonment. Though no details were released by the Centre about this prisoner, he could be Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was sentenced to death for the assassination of then CM Beant Singh. However, there is no confirmation on this.
The decision comes just as its relationship with Shiromani Akali Dal has become difficult over BJP’s decision not to have an alliance with SAD in Haryana. The decision, which the Centre described as a ‘goodwill gesture’, was taken due to long-pending demands for release of Sikh prisoners articulated by various sections of the Sikh community, the MHA release said.
The MHA did not reveal names of the Sikh detainees set to be released after their long jail terms. It just said these prisoners, lodged in different jails of India, have been granted ‘premature release’ through special remission.
The Punjab government had recently sent a list of nine Sikh Tada detainees — Dilbagh Singh, Lal Singh, Saran Singh, Baj Singh, Hardeep Singh, Subheg Singh, Nand Singh, Gurdeep Singh Khera and Waryam Singh — to the Centre, seeking their release.
^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

References

1. ^{^} Balwant Singh Rajoana (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} Shiromani Akali Dal (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
3. ^{^} Haryana (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
4. ^{^} Dilbagh Singh (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
5. ^{^} Nand Singh (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

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