2 weeks ago
Beant Singh assassin Hawara declines two-day parole to meet mother
In 1995, a big explosion at a government building in Chandigarh killed Beant Singh, an important leader of Punjab, and sixteen other people.
A man named Jagtar Singh Hawara was sent to prison for life because of that explosion.
Now, many years later, Hawara's mother is very sick and wants to see her son.
Prison officials said Hawara could go home for just two days to visit her, as long as guards came with him.
Hawara said no, because he thinks being let out for only one or two days is not a real parole and makes a mockery of the system.
He said he would not accept it even if his mother passed away.
Some people who support Hawara, including the chief minister of Punjab, want him to get ten days instead.
A leader named Ravneet Singh Bittu, whose grandfather was Beant Singh, said he still hopes the mother can see her son.
People disagree about what the government really offered, and leaders are asking everyone to stay calm and peaceful.
Jagtar Singh Hawara, convicted in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, declined the two-day parole granted by the Delhi Prison Department to meet his ailing mother.
Union Home Ministry officials told Hawara, a high-risk prisoner lodged in Delhi's Mandoli jail, that his movement outside prison would require deployment of additional security personnel.
Quami Insaf Morcha convener Pal Singh France and lawyer Jaspal Singh Manjhpur confirmed Hawara's refusal, saying he called one- or two-day parole a 'mockery of the system.'
BJP leader and Beant Singh's grandson Ravneet Singh Bittu denied the Centre offered Hawara one-day parole, calling such claims false, while saying he wants Hawara to meet his ailing mother.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had urged the Governor for 10-day parole for Hawara; Manjhpur warned the matter could go back to the High Court if parole is not granted under the jail manual.
- Who
- Jagtar Singh Hawara, a life-term convict in the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh, currently lodged in Delhi's Mandoli jail.
- What
- Hawara declined a two-day parole offered by the Delhi Prison Department to meet his ailing mother, saying short-term parole was a 'mockery of the system'; the Centre denied offering a one-day parole.
- Where
- Delhi's Mandoli jail; the case relates to the blast at the entrance of the civil secretariat in Chandigarh.
- When
- Union Home Ministry officials met Hawara on a Wednesday evening and his refusal was reported the following Thursday; the blast occurred on August 31, 1995.
- Why
- Parole was sought so Hawara could meet his ailing mother, who Bittu said has waited for him for 31 years; Hawara refused because he considered the guarded one- or two-day release unacceptable.
Hawara's supporters and Punjab government
Centre and BJP leadership
Parole offer dispute
Hawara's supporters and Punjab government
Quami Insaf Morcha and lawyer Jaspal Singh Manjhpur say the Centre offered Hawara only one- or two-day parole with guards accompanying him, which Hawara rejected as a 'mockery of the system.'
Centre and BJP leadership
BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu says reports of a one-day parole offer are false; the Centre is making arrangements for Hawara's parole and examining the security angle.
Parole length and security
Hawara's supporters and Punjab government
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann urged the Governor to grant 10-day parole; supporters say the jail manual allows up to 30 days and Hawara should be allowed home to meet his ailing mother.
Centre and BJP leadership
Hawara is categorised as a high-risk prisoner whose movement outside prison requires additional security personnel; the Centre is balancing the humanitarian request with security needs.
Politics over the issue
Hawara's supporters and Punjab government
Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) leader Manpreet Singh Ayali claims the Centre is not allowing Hawara to come home and was offering to airlift his mother to a hospital instead.
Centre and BJP leadership
Bittu urges political parties to exercise restraint, saying irresponsible statements could 'put the state on fire' and asking that the matter pass as a humanitarian episode.
Key facts
- Convict
- Jagtar Singh Hawara
- Crime
- Assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh and 16 others
- Incident date
- August 31, 1995 (blast at Chandigarh civil secretariat)
- Current location
- Mandoli jail, Delhi
- Parole status
- Declined two-day offer from Delhi Prison Department
- Parole sought
- 10 days, urged by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann
- Reason for parole
- Meeting Hawara's ailing mother
- Jail manual provision
- Delhi jail manual allows parole up to 30 days
Quotes
Jaspal Singh Manjhpur
Activist and lawyer handling Bandi Singhs cases.
“"All these are false reports. If anyone is claiming that he will be given parole for a day or a few hours, then he doesn’t know anything."”
indianexpress.com
“"Hawara refused to accept this. He told the officials that he would not accept one or two-day parole even if his mother passes away."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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