Chandigarh
Tribune: Chandigarh: Tuesday, 19 August 2014.
The
pre-mature release of life-convict Gurmeet Singh, alias Pinki, an alleged
terrorist-turned-commando-turned cop, in the murder case of Avtar Singh, alias
Gola, of Ludhiana has stirred a controversy with lawyers questioning the
legality of the release and the procedure adopted to send certain prisoners to
Nabha open jail, where they get faster remission in sentence. Even religious
leaders, owning allegiance to the SAD, have questioned the release.
Pinki was
released a few days ago after spending seven years in jail. Punjab Governor
Shivraj Patil issued the orders after the state Cabinet recommended the case to
him. Pinki had pleaded mercy on the basis of good conduct.
Akal Takht
Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has opposed the release saying same rules should
be followed in all cases. "If the state government could remit the
sentence of Pinki then why it could not make efforts for the release of various
Sikh prisoners who have completed their jail term long ago." SGPC
president Avtar Singh Makkar has sought review of the decision, saying
"The state government should review it. The move has hurt the members of
Sikh community."
Bhai Gurbaksh
Singh Khalsa, who observed a 42-day fast seeking release of Sikh prisoners
languishing in various jails last year, said it proved that the state
government was all powerful when it came to benefiting its own persons.
"It was
unfortunate that the government was remitting sentence of such convicts when
scores of Sikhs were languishing in jails for decades", he said.
Pinki was
once an alleged member of the banned terrorist outfit Babbar Khalsa. He was
credited with nabbing of high-profile terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara in 1990s.
But he was also involved in a series of controversies, including involvement in
fake encounters and land disputes. He got out-of-turn promotions and was
eventually involved in the murder of 21-year-old Avtar Singh in Maya Nagar,
Ludhiana, on January 7, 2001. Pinki was an Inspector at that time.
The all Avtar
did was to ask Pinki and his gunmen for a way on a street where they were
drinking openly with liquor bottle and glasses atop a car. All these years his
family faced threats and compromise offers.
Pinki has
drawn the ire of Sikh organisations and the clergy for his alleged involvement
in the killing and disappearance of ‘innocent’ Sikh youths. Rajinder Singh
Bains, counsel for Avtar Singh’s family, said: “We will appeal against his
release. The Supreme Court has clearly said that a criminal should not be
released before 14 years when sentenced for life. There must be valid basis for
granting mercy.”
“As per
records, the convict displayed good conduct. He got benefit from periodical
remission of sentences given by the government to several prisoners,” a jail
department official said.
Family
upset;
Pinki’s
release has shattered Avtar’s parents Amrik Singh and Charanjit Kaur. Showing
RTI documents, they claimed, "Pinki remained out of jail six times between
December 2012 and June 2014. RTI information shows that his jail term of four
years, four months and six days has been waived.” Amrik said they had to sell
their valuables to arrange money for fighting the case.
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