NEW DELHI (PTI): Akal Takht’s head priest, Singh Sahib Ranjit Singh was held guilty of mordent Nirankan chief Baba Gurbachan Singh in April 1980.
Additional sessions judge R.P.Gupta, who has been holding in camera proceedings in the Tihar central jail for the past 10 years, pronounced the judgment after remarking that he was satisfied with the arguments of both parties.
The judge pronounced the sentence in the case of Singh Sahib Ranjit Singh, awarding him 30 years life imprisonment. He however, acquitted four other accused in the case,
While two of them were acquit ted straightaway, two others were acquitted on the benefit of doubt.
Gupta, who had deferred judgmental the case four times earlier, Friday held Singh Sahib Ranjit Singh guilty under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities prevention act (TADA) and explosives act.
A large number of leaders and activists of Akali Dal who waited outside the jail to hear the judgment, said that it was a “political decision.”
One of the acquitted, Charanjit Singh said the verdict was in complete. “It is aimed at pleasing the Nirankans,” he said.
A heavy security cordon was thrown in front of the administrative block of the jail premises where the hearing was going on and even press reporters were not allowed.
Gurbachan Singh Nirankari was shot dead on April 24,1980 while on way to the Nirankari Bhawan, The provocation for the act according to the prosecution was a clash between Nirankaris and Sikhs on the Baisakhi day in 1978 when 13 Sikhs were killed.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 2, 1993
