LUDHIANA: Jagtar Singh Hawara, the prime accused in the Beant Singh ‘assassination case, would have clouded the police had the cyanide capsule not failed him.

Hawara told his counsel in the judicial courts here last week that when a Ludhiana police party laid its hands ‘On him at the Jalandhar bus stand on December 21, he immediately put in his mouth what he thought was a cyanide capsule but it proved to be ineffective, leading to his subsequent arrest. The prized militant also disclosed that he was shot in the right thigh soon after so as to incapability him Though the police is reported to have Seized Hawara’s diary, containing valuable information on activities of the Babbar Khalsa outfit, Hawara said the huge recovery of arms and explosives had not been made at his instance and that the police claims to this effect were false. He had not made any such revelations, he added.

The interview, conducted by advocates H_S. Gilland Balbir Singh Sooch in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate G.S. Sowak, followed high drama.

The court granted the permission for an interview despite opposition from the police party. So much so, the judge directed the policemen and others to go out of the court room during the confidential meeting. Hawara remained handcuffed but was not chained to any cop during the period. The CJM also allowed the application of these advocates to have a daily interview with Hawara from 4 p.m, to 4:30 p.m, in the police station and directed the police to cooperate.

The judge opposed the plea for 14 days’ police remand for Hawara, saying he was already in custody till January 9, He eventually agreed to give police remand up to January 9 in the fresh case of recovery of nine rocket launchers and other arms from him in the police station of focal point area. The judge, accepting the counsel’s plea, ordered strengthening of Hawara’s security.

Another Babbar Khalsa militant, Bikram Singh alias Billa, was remanded to police custody by Mr, Sewak till January 12.

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 10, 1996