Balwant Singh Rajoana: Difference between revisions
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=== Assassination of Beant Singh === |
=== Assassination of Beant Singh === |
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In Punjab between 1992 and 1995, at a time when the Khalistan separatist movement was active in the state and the Indian government was aggressively seeking to control the movement. Beant Singh formed government in 1992 with support of the Congress party in Punjab. Most of the Punjab population boycotted the elections and he was elected on less than 10% of votes polled. During this time Director General of Police expanded upon a system of rewards and incentives for police to capture and kill militants, leading to a dramatic increase in disappearances and extrajudicial executions. Although all Sikhs were vulnerable to disappearance and killing, police especially targeted Amritdharis (Singhs/baptized Sikhs of the [[Khalsa]]), those who were politically active with the Akali Dal parties, and families and friends of alleged militants.<ref>http://www.ensaaf.org/</ref> |
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By the end of the "Decade of Disappearances" in 1995, security forces had disappeared or killed tens of thousands of Sikhs. In order to cover up their crimes, Punjab security forces killed human rights defenders such as [[Jaswant Singh Khalra]] and [[Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti]], as well as secretly cremated thousands of victims of extrajudicial executions between 1984 and 1995.<ref>http://www.ensaaf.org/</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Rajoana and Babbar flipped a coin |
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| ⚫ | Balwant Singh Rajoana was a constable and a close friend of [[Dilawar Singh Babbar]], another serving police officer in the Punjab Police who blew himslef up to assissinate the Chief Minister. Rajoana was the second human bomb to be used in case if Dilawar had failed in his mission. Dilawar Singh and Balwant Singh flipped a coin for deciding who would become the human bomb for eliminating the then Chief Minister. [[Dilawar Singh Babbar]] won the fatal toss and agreed to lose his life. But before triggering off the blast, he asked Balwant Singh to confess his hand, which he did on 25 December 1997.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120319/edit.htm#5 | title = Promises to keep | author = Saurabh Malik | publisher = The Tribune | location = Chandigarh | date = 2012-03-19 | accessdate = 2012-03-29 }}</ref> |
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=== Conviction and death sentence === |
=== Conviction and death sentence === |
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Revision as of 13:06, 29 March 2012
Balwant Singh Rajoanaa | |
|---|---|
| File:"Balwant Singh Rajoana, March 2012.png".png Balwant Singh Rajoana outside the court in Chandigarh after been awarded a death sentence. | |
| Born | |
| Occupation | Police constable |
| Known for | Participation in the conspiracy to kill Beant Singh |
Balwant Singh Rajoana is a Sikh responsible for the assassination of Punjab CM Beant Singh on August 31, 1995. Rajoana was sentenced to death by a special court in India.[1] The killing was in retaliation for the alleged human rights violations during the counter-insurgency operations carried out under the Beant Singh government. Beant Singh was killed by Balwant Singh's associate Dilawar Singh Babbar; Balwant Singh was the backup human bomb to be used had Dilawar failed in his mission.[2]
Biography
Balwant Singh was born in Rajoana village in Raikot (District Ludhiana) of Punjab into a traditional Sikh family. In 1986, he joined the Punjab Police. ACcording his elder brother Kulwant Singh, Balwant was a pacifist and was opposed to any kind of violence. As a child, he was fond of reading ghazals, novels and poetry. The works of Surjit Paatar and Jaswant Singh Kanwal played an important role in shaping his ideology.[3]
Assassination of Beant Singh
In Punjab between 1992 and 1995, at a time when the Khalistan separatist movement was active in the state and the Indian government was aggressively seeking to control the movement. Beant Singh formed government in 1992 with support of the Congress party in Punjab. Most of the Punjab population boycotted the elections and he was elected on less than 10% of votes polled. During this time Director General of Police expanded upon a system of rewards and incentives for police to capture and kill militants, leading to a dramatic increase in disappearances and extrajudicial executions. Although all Sikhs were vulnerable to disappearance and killing, police especially targeted Amritdharis (Singhs/baptized Sikhs of the Khalsa), those who were politically active with the Akali Dal parties, and families and friends of alleged militants.[4]
By the end of the "Decade of Disappearances" in 1995, security forces had disappeared or killed tens of thousands of Sikhs. In order to cover up their crimes, Punjab security forces killed human rights defenders such as Jaswant Singh Khalra and Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti, as well as secretly cremated thousands of victims of extrajudicial executions between 1984 and 1995.[5]
Balwant Singh Rajoana was a constable and a close friend of Dilawar Singh Babbar, another serving police officer in the Punjab Police who blew himslef up to assissinate the Chief Minister. Rajoana was the second human bomb to be used in case if Dilawar had failed in his mission. Dilawar Singh and Balwant Singh flipped a coin for deciding who would become the human bomb for eliminating the then Chief Minister. Dilawar Singh Babbar won the fatal toss and agreed to lose his life. But before triggering off the blast, he asked Balwant Singh to confess his hand, which he did on 25 December 1997.[6]
Conviction and death sentence
Balwant Singh had “openly confessed” an involvement and strongly expressed no faith in Indian judiciary. He refused to defend himself accusing Indian courts of applying dual standards of law and the Indian judicial system of shielding the culprits of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.[citation needed] ”Asking for mercy from them (Indian courts) is not even in my distant dreams” Rajoana said in a open letter to Media.
Balwant Singh explained his actions referring to the Operation Blue Star, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following Indira Gandhi's assassination and alleged human rights violations during the anti-insurgency operations in Punjab.[7]
Rajoana was sentenced to death by a special court and his execution scheduled for 31 March 2012.[8] In his will, Balwant Singh said that his wish was to donate his eyes to Lakhwinder Singh (Ragi at Golden Temple Amritsar) and his kidneys, heart or any other body part to needy patients. On March 28, 2012 India's Home Ministry stayed the execution following clemency appeals filed by the government of Punjab and protests in Punjab and by Sikh communities world wide.[9]
Awards
On 23 March 2012, he was awarded the title of "Living Martyr" by Akal Takhat, the highest temporal seat of the Khalsa. Rajoana initially refused to accept the title, but later on 27 March, he accepted the award, saying that it will make him "more determined" towards his goals.[10][8] Dilawar Singh Babbar was also awarded the title of "National Martyr" in the same order from Akal Takhat.
References
- ^ "Beant Singh killing: Balwant Singh Rajoana's hanging stayed". IBNLive. 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ "Punjab on edge over hanging of Beant Singh's killer Balwant Singh Rajoana". India Today. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
- ^ Amrita Chaudhry (2012-03-29). "Beant killer, a fan of Punjabi literature". Indian Express. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ http://www.ensaaf.org/
- ^ http://www.ensaaf.org/
- ^ Saurabh Malik (2012-03-19). "Promises to keep". Chandigarh: The Tribune. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ Yug Mohit Choudhary (2012-03-29). "Why Balwant Singh Rajoana shouldn't be hanged". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ a b "Will Balwant Singh Rajoana be hanged on Saturday? 10 big developments". NDTV. 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ "India puts Sikh radical Rajoana's execution on hold". BBC News. 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
- ^ Aman Sood (2012-03-28). "Finally, Rajoana agrees for 'Zinda Shaheed' title". The Tribune. Retrieved 2012-03-29.