Former militant released on parole, Gurbaksh Singh to end fast

As the hunger strike of former terrorist Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa entered 42nd day, a militant convicted in former chief minister Beant Singh's murder case in 1995 was released today on parole from Burail jail here.
Gurmeet Singh was released from the high security jail for a four-week parole, officials said.
Singh facing life term in connection with Beant Singh's murder case was received by activists of radical outfits, including Dal Khalsa outside the jail premises after his release this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the other two convicts- Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh -lodged in Burail jail here are expected to be released on parole tomorrow, officials said, adding the paperwork for their parole is under process.

Former militant, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa whose hunger strike entered 42nd day at a Sikh shrine in Mohali announced to end his fast tomorrow at Akal Takhat, the top temporal seat of Sikhs.
Gurbaksh Singh has been on hunger strike demanding release of six Sikh prisoners who have already completed their jail terms after being convicted in former chief minister's murder case in 1995.

Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh, who had yesterday issued an edict asking Gurbax to end his fast, met him at Mohali today.
The Akal Takhat head impressed upon Gurbaksh to end his fast following which he announced to adhere to the diktat of Akal Takhat by ending his fast tomorrow at Amritsar.

Out of the six convicts, one Lal Singh, who was lodged in Patiala's Nabha jail, was released on six weeks parole four days back.
Another Sikh detainee Waryam Singh lodged in a Uttar Pardesh jail in a different case is also expected to get parole tomorrow as formalities in this connection are over, sources said.
Meanwhile, sixth Sikh detainee Gurdeep Singh, lodged in a Karnataka jail in a TADA case will take some time to get parole as his case and paperwork have just been initiated, sources said.
Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh are lodged in Burail jail at Chandigarh after their life conviction in the Beant Singh assassination case.

Lal Singh was sent behind bars in an Arms Act case by the Gujarat government in 1992. He was later shifted to Nabha jail in Patiala from Gujarat.
Waryam was convicted in a separate case in 1990 by a court in Uttar Pardesh while Gurdeep under TADA Act also in 1990 by a court in Karnataka.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal too had maintained that the Sikh detainees must be released on parole and the state government had taken all necessary steps for their release.
The family members of Beant Singh had also expressed no objection to the release of Sikh detainees.