Mercy plea pending, Rajoana blames SGPC, threatens fast

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 14

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict on death row for the assassination of the then Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995, has decided to start an indefinite fast at the Patiala Central Jail from Monday. In a letter addressed to the SGPC, he has flayed the committee for not following up the mercy petition it had moved on his behalf before the President in 2012, and demanded clarity in the case.

“I will continue the fast till the SGPC either takes up the matter with the Home Ministry to expedite the decision on my hanging or withdraws the plea,” reads the letter, dated July 14.

“The petition is pending for more than six years. Since the SGPC is working under the command of the SAD, which is part of the Union government, the delay raises more doubts,” the letter reads.

Jail Superintendent Rajan Kapur said he had forwarded the letter to the SGPC president following a request by Rajoana.

Sources said several officials have met Rajoana in Patiala jail following his protest threat, but all efforts by the SGPC to convince him failed. The convict “blames the SGPC for the delay and confusion on the matter”, they added.

On death row in Beant singh assassination case

July 2007: Special trial court in Chandigarh sentences Babbar Khalsa terrorists Balwant Singh Rajoana and Jagtar Singh Hawara to death in CM Beant Singh’s assassination case

March 10, 2012: Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, orders Rajoana’s execution in Patiala Central Jail on March 31

March 15, 2012: Punjab DGP (Prisons) writes to state Home Secretary, arguing against the hanging in Punjab and demanding that the prisoner be sent back to Burail Jail (Chandigarh) for execution of death sentence

March 19, 2012: Patiala jail administration returns death warrant, citing legal and jurisdiction issues

March 27, 2012: District court maintains that Rajoana should be hanged on scheduled date

March 28, 2012: Seeking clemency for Rajoana, SGPC moves petition to the President’s office, which forwards it to the Home Ministry; latter stays Rajoana’s execution till further orders

November 2016: Rajoana goes on hunger strike; flays SGPC for no follow-up on 2012 mercy petition