Chandigarh: The sentences awarded by two General Court Martial to 70 soldiers of 9 Sikh Regiment have been confirmed by higher authorities. The convicted soldiers have been committed to the civil authorities for keeping them in jail. According to Section 153 of the Army act the findings and sentences awarded by a General Court Martial do not become valid unless these are confirmed by the concerned authorities. The sentences awarded to four other soldiers of 9 Sikh Regiment by a G.C.M. have not yet been confirmed as a_ petition filed on their behalf by the counsel Col. K.S. Gill (Retd.), a lawyer of the Panjab and Haryana High Court, is still under consideration. Hav Ranbir Singh Ucha Ladana, Jalandhar and 9 others were tried by a General Court Martial. A petition filed on their behalf by Brig. Gill was considered before the sentences awarded by a G.C.M. were confirmed. On Nov. 15 Hav. Ranbir Singh and his 9 co convicts were sent to Gananagar jail from where they have been shifted to the district jail nearest to their home town. Hav. Ranbir Singh was awarded 14 years sentence reduced in rank and dismissed from service while Nk. Kuldip Singh was sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment. Sepoys Pritaim Singh, Kulwant Singh, Karam Singh, Ravinder Singh and Harpal Singh were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment. Sepoy Piara Singh to 7 years and Ln. Naik Jagnail Singh and Pargat Singh to 10 years. Ln. Hav. Jarnail Singh and 6 others were convicted by the concerned G.C.M. and Jarnail Singh has been sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment, Ln. Naik Malkiat Singh to ten years and Sepoy Chanan Singh, Jagtar Singh, Avtar Singh and Ranjit Singh were awarded 7 years rigorous imprisonment. While Sepoy Gurdev Singh has been jailed for 5 years. Those convicted were advised to file petitions through the Chief of Army Staff.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 13, 1985
