Three Sikh political prisoners in Burrail could not get released on 23 Dec; Chances are high today

Chandigarh/ Amb Sahib (December 24, 2013): Though there was no fundamental hindrance in their release on parole (temporary release from prison), Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh could not get released from Chandigarh Model Jail, Burrail on December 23, 2013.

Multiple sources have revealed that four week’s parole of trio has been cleared by the jail authorities but there remained some paper work that could not be completed yesterday.

According to Sikh Organization for Prisoners’ Welfare (SOPW): SPOW was expecting the parole release of Shamsher Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Gurmit Singh on 23 December. However, the Jail Authorities informed it that the paperwork for Lakhwinder Singh and Gurmit Singh could not be completed in time, so all three of them were not be released on Dec. 23.

“[B]ut the authorities have assured us that the release will hopefully take place tomorrow”, SOPW writes on it’s social networking (Facebook) page.

As per Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) sources the Chandigarh’s IGP (Jails) has sought direction from UT administrator on parole of three Sikhs sentenced to imprisonment for life in Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassination case.

As per SSN sources it is with in the authority of IGP to grant parole but the IGP has sought directions from UT administrator in this particular case as the case was identified as ‘high profile’.

It is notable that trio are confined in Chandigarh Model Jail, Burrail since 1995. They were sentenced to imprisonment for life in 2007. Trio have completed 18 years in prison.

As per applicable jail manual life term inmate’s case needs to be considered for permanent release from prison after completion of 14 years of imprisonment and the parole starts four months after the conviction. But the case of these three persons is never considered for permanent release or parole since 2007.