Punjab government to challenge order to hang Beant Singh killer
The Punjab government today said that it would challenge a sessions court order to hang Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for his involvement in the assassination of former chief minister Beant Singh, as scheduled on March 31. Hang Rajoana on March 31: Chandigarh court | Badal dashes to meet Prez tomorrow | What next for Balwant Singh?
The Punjab government on Tuesday said that it would challenge a sessions court order that death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for his involvement in the assassination of former chief minister Beant Singh, be hanged as scheduled on March 31.
Dismissing the petition of Patiala Central Jail superintendent LR Jakhar seeking deferment of the execution, the court in Chandigarh also returned the warrant of execution for compliance.
In a jam-packed courtroom, additional district and sessions judge, Shalini Singh Nagpal, said "the execution order is returned for compliance."
The death warrant should be executed as directed earlier, the judge said during the proceedings lasting barely three minutes.
The judge also issued a show cause notice for contempt of court to the jail superintendent.
Earlier, the court had on March 5 ordered execution of Rajoana, a Babbar Khalsa militant lodged in the Patiala Central Jail, on March 31.
Additional advocate general Anoopinder Singh Grewal, who represented the jail superintendent, told mediapersons outside the court that the state would move the Punjab and Haryana court against Tuesday's order.
The jail superintendent, who also talked to reporters, said "I will not hang him (Rajoana).I will not commit illegal murder."
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