Former Sikh militant lodged in UP’s Bareilly jail gets 30-day parole

Former Sikh militant Waryam Singh (70) sentenced to life imprisonment under the now repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevent) Act (TADA) was released on 30-day parole from the Bareilly Central Jail on Thursday, after having spent 25 years and eight months in jail.

Former Sikh militant Waryam Singh (70) sentenced to life imprisonment under the now repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevent) Act (TADA) was released on 30-day parole from the Bareilly Central Jail on Thursday, after having spent 25 years and eight months in jail.

Former Sikh militant Waryam Singh outside Bareilly Central Jail on Thursday. (HT Photo)

“For the first time in 25 years, I will be meeting my family outside the jail premises. I thank UP jails minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia,” said Waryam, adding that the minister had met him during his visit to the jail on Tuesday.

“I am confident that soon I will be permanently released from jail. I have spent 25 years of my life in jail for doing nothing. I want to be free now,” Waryam added before leaving for his home with his younger son Jagdish Singh, who had travelled from Shahjahanpur, around 100-km away, to receive his father.

Waryam was arrested from his village in Tanda block of Shahjahanpur in 1990 and was charged under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy). “I was charged under TADA only in 1994 even as I have never been involved in any terrorist activity,” claimed Waryam.