SC to hear Punjab lawyer's plea on threat from terrorists

The Supreme Court will Friday hear a Punjab lawyer's plea seeking "adequate security" as he faces threat to his life from Khalistani terror outfits allegedly for his retributory killing of terrorists in the state in the 1980s.

Besides himself, the petitioner Sukhwinder Singh alias Dayal Singh, who works in Kapurthala, has also sought security cover for his family.

The apex court bench of Justice Gyan Sudha Misra and Justice Madan B. Lokur directed the listing of the matter Friday as Sukhwinder Singh, who appeared in person, told the court that he feared a threat to his life from terror outfits which had announced a "reward of Rs.2.5 crore on his head".

Sukhwinder Singh in his petition said that the threats have been given to him by Khalistan Commando Force and Bhindranwale Liberation Army.

Initially as Sukhwinder Singh pressed for the court's direction to government to provide security cover to him, Justice Misra said the court could not pass any order without hearing the government.

He said that he be sent to the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation as he admitted to retributory killings of the terrorists in Punjab.

In response to the notice issued by the apex court on his plea, two confidential reports one by the Delhi Police and another by the Punjab Police were filed before the apex court. Notice on his plea was issued May 6, 2013.

In the course of the last hearing of the matter May 23, the court was told by Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra that the matter had been examined by the union home Ministry and a report was awaited.

Sukhwinder Singh alias Dayal Singh took up the arms against the terror groups after the wedding party of his friend Mukesh was attacked by the extremists Feb 8, 1988 in which seven people, including the bridegroom were killed. In that attack, Sukhwinder Singh sister too received eight bullet injuries.

However, she survived the bullet injuries and is practicing lawyer in Kapurthala.

Sukhwinder Singh has annexed a number of newspaper clippings in support of his claim that he faced threat to his life from militant outfits.