Kapurthala/ Nabha, Punjab (December 20, 2013): Certain significant developments have taken place regarding demand of release of Sikh political prisoners whose permanent release is being demanded by Sikh activist Bhai Gurbaksh Singh who has been on hunger strike since November 14, 2013.
Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) sources have revealed that the Punjab government has granted another parole to Bhai Lal Singh. Rupees two lakh bond has been deposited with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kapurthala district and the release of Bhai Lal Singh is expected late this evening. (UPDATE 1: 18:15 IST: Bhai Lal Singh is released from Maximum Security Jail Nabha).
It is notable that parole is a temporary release from the prison and Bhai Lal Singh has already been released on paroles for 20 times.
His routine parole was due in coming months but the sudden process of his release is being viewed as a positive development.
Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) could not confirm whether there is some change in terms and conditions of parole this time, to ensure that this release is different from his routine release on parole. More information in this regard is awaited.
(UPDATE 2: 18:58 IST: Sikh Siyasat Source revealed that this time Bhai Lal Singh’s parole is different from previous paroles. Previously Bhai Lal Singh’s sureties were asked to deposit Rs. 40,000/- bonds but this time they are asked to deposit Rs. 2,00,000/- bonds. “Eh paki parole hai” (This is permanent parole, Bhai Lal Singh’s surety told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone).
(UPDATE 3: 20:49 IST: Bhai Lal Singh told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone that his parole was due on 24 December 2013. He said that like previous paroles he is released for 6 weeks).
(UPDATE 4: 20:49 IST: Bhai Lal Singh’s surities told SSN that some government mediators have ensured them that his case for permanent release shall be pushed through during the term of his current parole.)
It is notable that Bhai Lal Singh was convicted by the court of Sh. CK Butch, Designated Judge Ahmadabad Rural at Mirzapur (Gujrat) on 8 January 1997 under sections 3 and 5 of TADA Act, 120-B IPC, section 5 of Explosives Act and Section 25(1)(a) of Arms Act. He is facing imprisonment for life. He was arrested on 14 July 1992. He has spent 21 years in prison (including lawful remissions, excluding period of paroles). His jail record is clean and there is no post conviction crime. He has peacefully completed 20 paroles and there has never been any complaint of any form against him.
It is pertinent to note that the Punjab and Haryana High Court twice found that his case was a fit case for permanent release from Jail and issued directions to the Gujrat government led by Narindra Modi to consider his case for permanent release from Jail on both occasions but he still remains behind the bars.
(NOTE: This post was first published at: 17:55 IST. After Update 1 above, the title of this news was changed from: “Punjab Govt. grants parole to Sikh prisoner Lal Singh; Release expected today” to “Punjab Govt. grants parole to Sikh prisoner Lal Singh; Released from Nabha Jail“.) NOTE: The contents of this post were updated several times to incorporate the latest information on the issue).