FILE
Photo: Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara
CHANDIGARH, Punjab (September 30, 2014)—The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Jathedar Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara in the attempted case of assassinating former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal in 1995. Bhai Hawara, along with four others, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in the case.
At that time, Bhai Hawara was already imprisoned in Chandigarh’s High Security Burail Jail. In addition to Bhai Hawara, the four others who have now been fully acquitted include Hukam Singh, Malak Singh, Kulbir Singh, and Gurjeet Singh.
The prosecution had alleged that Bhai Hawara and his aides had conspired to kill Bhajan Lal in 1995 when the former chief minister was TRAVELLING in Narwana, Haryana. A fabricated case was made up in which the police alleged that on December 14, 1995, gunshots were fired by the Sikh freedom fighters when they were stopped at a check point.
FILE Photo: Bhajan Lal, former Haryana Chief Minister responsible for mass killings of Sikhs
Bhai Hawara, along with Bhai Paramjit Singh Bheora were alleged as the main conspirators plotting the assassination of Bhajan Lal at a public rally. Police had further fabricated evidence that Kulbir Singh was going to act as a human bomb.
Former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal was responsible for committing human rights violations against Sikhs living in Haryana. Many Sikhs were murdered in fake encounters during his tenure as Haryana Chief Minster.