Pamma won’t hang, Punjab to tell Portugal

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 9 

The Punjab Government will give a written assurance to the Portugal government that suspected terrorist Paramjit Singh Pamma will neither be awarded death penalty nor incarcerated in a prison for more than 25 years, if found guilty of spreading terror in Punjab. 

Sources said the assurance was mandatory as India’s extradition treaty with Portugal specifies that those extradited would not be awarded the death sentence. The assurance will be given by the state’s Home Department, after the file is approved by the state Home Minister and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal. 

Pamma was arrested by the Portugal police last month after an Interpol red-corner notice was issued against him. Pamma, residing in the UK on political asylum, was on a visit to Portugal with his family when he was detained there. He is accused of plotting the killing of Rashtriya Sikh Sangh (a RSS offshoot) leader Rulda Singh. Also, he is a key conspirator in the Patiala and Ambala bomb blasts. 

Ever since his arrest, hardline Sikh activists have stepped up efforts to block his extradition. Pamma’s parents in Punjab have appealed to the Portuguese court against his extradition, claiming there was a threat to his life in India.