July 22, 2015 by admin

Amid talk of climbdown, fasting Khalsa prunes convict list to 65

Chandigarh, July 22
The stalemate between the government and Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa over the release of 82 Sikh convicts seems to be inching towards a resolution after both sides relaxed their stand today.
The Punjab Government today released Sikh hardliners led by Mohkam Singh and Gurdeep Singh, who heads Khalsa’s Sangharsh Committee, and held meetings with them at Police Lines, Ludhiana, while Khalsa’s advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur pruned the list of Sikh convicts to 65 from the earlier 82. The talks remained inconclusive.
The government neither released anyone representing the Satkar Committee headed by Sukhjit Singh Khosa nor held parleys with them. They have been accused of gathering arson material in Hassanpur village. This committee had taken control over the agitation in the past two weeks. Manjhpur had in January released the list of 82 Sikh convicts.
But, in the fresh list released today, he deleted 24 names saying they were undertrials out on bail. However, he added seven new names to the list who are a trouble for the police. These include attackers on Pathankot Shiv Sena leader Harwinder Soni, attacked in August last year, and some members of the Simbal camp Jammu allegedly involved in terror activities in the state.
Khalsa has been on fast since January 16 seeking release of Sikh convicts. However, the police in a briefing to the media, newspaper advertisements and during parleys with the Sangharsh Committee insisted none of those on the list could be released legally.