Hawara, Balwant get death in Beant case

Chandigarh, July 31: Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh were sentenced to death in the Beant Singh assassination case.

The sentence was pronounced by the Special CBI Court in the high security Burail jail here today.

Handing out the verdict, Special Court Judge Ravi Kumar awarded life terms to three other accused-- Gurmit Singh, Shamsher Singh and Lakhwinder Singh.

The five were found guilty of murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to murder and under the explosives act. They were also fined Rs 5000 each by the Court.

However sixth accused, Naseeb Singh, who was awarded 10 years imprisonment was set free as he had been behind bars for the last 11 years. He was found guilty under section-five of the explosives act.

The maximum sentence under the explosive act cannot exceed beyond ten years.

Naseeb Singh was also directed by the Court to pay a fine of Rs 10,000, which his counsel deposited before he was set free from Burail Jail.

Former chief minister Beant Singh and 16 others were killed in a powerful bomb explosion outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat on August 31, 1995. The human bomber Dilwar Singh who carried out the assassination was blown to pieces in the attack.

UNI