Bitta slams shifting of Bhullar to Amritsar jail from Tihar

New Delhi, Jun 12: All-India-Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chief M S Bitta today voiced anguish over shifting of 1993 Delhi blast convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar from Tihar prison to a jail in Amritsar, saying it may lead to revival of terrorism in Punjab.

Bitta, who was a target of the blast for which Bhullar was handed death sentence before it was commuted to life term, said the terror convict has been shifted to Amritsar with an aim to gain political mileage in the assembly polls in 2017.

Condemning the decision, the former Youth Congress chief severely criticised a number of Congress leaders also and said he felt "defeated" today. "I am feeling defeated by political terrorism. Bhullar's shifting to Amritsar reflected double faces of certain politicians.

The decision is politically motivated. It may result in revival of terrorism in Punjab," he told reporters. Earlier in the day, Bhullar was shifted to the Central Jail in Amritsar from Tihar Jail.

Bitta targeted Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Sheila Dikshit accusing them of "toiling hard" to save the blast convict. He also slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allowing Bhullar to be shifted from Tihar, and said the AAP leader wanted to gain votes during Punjab election.

Bhullar was initially awarded the death penalty for triggering the bomb blast in which nine persons were killed and 25 others injured, including Bitta, who was the then Youth Congress president.

The Supreme Court last year had commuted his death sentence to life term on the ground of delay in deciding his mercy plea and his medical condition. Bitta said he is working on a book to be titled 'Political Terrorism' which is expected to be released in next five-six months.

He alleged harassment by central agencies and claimed he had applied for euthanasia. "Why someone seeks euthanasia? When there is pain. Physically, I was fit. But the agencies, governments troubled me so much mentally that I sought euthanasia."

PTI