Now, Beant killers seek premature release from jail

CHANDIGARH: Three convicts in former Punjab CM Beant Singh's assassination case - Shamsher Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Lakhwinder Singh - on Saturday moved applications before Burail Jail authorities on desperate grounds, asking to be freed, corresponding to each "being an agriculturist, engineer and unmarried man," and also the "changed circumstances in Punjab."

The move came after Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal government's decision to release a TADA terrorist Lal Singh from Nabha Jail in Patiala on Friday. All three convicts are serving life imprisonment at the moment. They also said that circumstances in Punjab are no longer the same and they should be freed from the jail.

The three applications, copies of which are with TOI, were submitted to Model Jail superintendent in Burail in Chandigarh while seeking a premature release or a parole. The allegation against me is that I transported some RDX from Ajnala to Patiala, out of which some part was used for making bomb to kill Beant Singh in 1995," the first application by Shamsher Singh read.

Shamsher further consolidates his grounds by mentioning his professional pursuits in the application. "I am an agriculturist by vocation, having my wife and grown up children. I have got agriculture land in my village ... I have remained without parole after my conviction," it reads.

The 44-year-old was convicted for life imprisonment under Sections 120 B (offence of conspiracy) and 302 (attempt to murder) of the IPC.

Second convict Gurmeet Singh, who is accused of preparing the belt bomb for assassinating Beant Singh, too, has used his educational qualifications to seek release from jail. "I am a qualified engineer. I was working in BPL at the relevant time. ... Ever since my arrest I am in jail ..." the application by Gurmeet reads.

Third convict Lakhwinder Singh has made grounds of "changed circumstances in the state" to secure his release.

"It is the policy of the state to give premature release to the convicts after completion of 14 years of imprisonment. There are changed circumstances considering my premature release," it said.

The trio has also mentioned the endorsement by family members of late Beant Singh, including his grandsons MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and Khanna MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli, to secure their release from the jail.

"Besides them, even the political leaders are of consensus view that my release and that of others involved in the case will be in the interest of maintaining peace and harmony and more especially in the state of Punjab," the applications said.