Ludhiana: The Court of an Additional Sessions Judge here today acquitted Sikh political prisoner Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara in a 24 years old case. The case F.I.R number 133 (dated: 6 December 1995) was registered at police station Kotwali (Ludhiana). Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara was nominated in this case on 11 December 1995 and was arrested on 23 December 1995.
Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s counsel Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said that with this acquittal Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara is acquitted in all pending cases.
“As per our records and information, this was the last pending case against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara” said he, while adding that they would now get fresh custody certificate from jail authorities to reconfirm that there is was no pending case against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara.
The police had field a chargesheet against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Paramjit Singh Bheora, Baljinder Singh Padol, Bikramjit Singh Khumano and Pritam Singh on 5 August 1996.
Notably, the proceedings of the case were stopped due to a notification issued under section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in Punjab CM Beant Singh execution case. Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s counsel Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur had got resumed the proceedings of this case by filing an application on 26 May 2019.
Talking to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur said that the case was committed to the sessions court on 7 December 2015 and charges were framed by the sessions court against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara on 12 May 2017.
He said that 23 witnesses were examined in this case but the prosecution failed to substantiate its charges against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara.
“Nothing incriminating was found against Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara in this case, so the court of Additional Sessions Judge Atul Kasana recorded Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara’s statement under section 313 of the Cr.P.C. and disposed off the case while acquitted him”, said Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur.
It is notable that Bikramjit Singh was acquitted in this case on 25 February 2003 by the court of Sunil Kumar, Additional Sessions Judge.
Bhai Paramjit Singh Bheora was discharged in this case by the court of JMIC Varinder Kumar on 12 May 2016.
Baljinder Singh and Pritam Singh were declared P.O. (proclaimed offenders) in this case.