Parole for Beant Singh assassination convict: Punjab CM meets Governor, seeks help to secure relief

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and sought his intervention to secure parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence in the case related to the assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995.

Mann backed parole for Hawara on humanitarian grounds, saying his ailing mother has a "renewed hope" of meeting her son after years apart.

Mann seeks 10-day parole for Hawara

The chief minister said Kataria, who is also the Chandigarh administrator, assured him that he would take up the matter with the Union home secretary.

"I met him in connection with that matter. The governor is also the UT administrator. He is to recommend and thereafter, the Home Ministry will take a decision," Mann said.

Mann said his government had sought 10 days of parole, but the final decision rests with the Centre.

"We wrote for a 10-day parole. But it is the Centre that will take a call on granting parole for however long," Mann said.

The chief minister said Hawara's mother is in poor health and has been longing to see her son.

"His mother is currently semi-conscious. Whenever Hawara's name is uttered near her, she reacts. She wants to meet her son," he said.

Punjab govt assures law and order

Mann also told the governor that his government would take full responsibility for maintaining law and order if Hawara is allowed to visit his home.

"The state government takes full guarantee for the law and order situation in the wake of Jagtar Singh Hawara's visit to his home. His supporters and family members have also assured their fulsome support to the state government in this regard."

He added that the government would extend its support in pursuing the matter with the Centre.

"I expect that Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara ji will soon be sitting beside his mother," Mann said.

Court had sought time-bound decision

Last month, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed authorities at Delhi's Mandoli prison, where Hawara is lodged, to decide his parole application in a time-bound manner after seeking recommendations from the Chandigarh administration.

In an earlier letter to the governor, Mann had cited Hawara's mother's age-related health problems and deterioration in her condition.

"Owing to her old age, the mother of Jagtar Singh Hawara is facing age-related health issues. This has resulted in deterioration of her health, which is a major cause of concern for everyone."

Hawara was initially sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted by the high court. He is serving life imprisonment in the case concerning the August 31, 1995, blast at the Chandigarh civil secretariat entrance, in which Beant Singh and 16 others were killed.

A Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) delegation had also met the governor and sought his intervention for Hawara to meet his ailing mother.