A Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) member Hardeep Singh, serving a life term in a Punjab jail, has been released after 22 years for “good conduct”.
Hardeep Singh, a political prisoner, was released from the Amritsar Central Jail following clearance from the Badal government in the state.
Baaj Singh, a former BKI activist, was released recently.
Surat Singh Sangharsh Committee had submitted to the government a list of Sikh prisoners that it wanted released and it included the names of Hardeep Singh and Baaj Singh.
RK Sharma Jail Superintendent of the Amritsar Central Jail said Hardeep was released owing to his “good conduct”.
“His release orders were received a couple of days ago. But he was out on a 14-day parole. He was told to furnish certain formalities which he did today,” Shrma was quoted as saying by the Tribune newspaper.
Hardeep, a native of Chuslewar village in Tarn Taran district, was arrested under various sections of TADA, besides Section 302 (murder charges) of the IPC in 1993. He was associated with Khalistan Commando Force, Manochahal.
A court of law absolved Hardeep of TADA charges, but he was convicted of a murder that took place in 1991. He was 27 when he was arrested in 1993. Since then, he was lodged in the Amritsar jail and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997. Hardeep got married while he was out on bail in 2001.
Hardeep was grateful to the Punjab government and Sikh organisations for taking up the cause of political prisoners.
“I am thankful to the Punjab government and Sikh organisations who have taken up the cause of political prisoners. I hope that other prisoners languishing in jails too will walk free soon,” he said.
Earlier, on January 4, former terrorist Baaj Singh, a native of Bhullar village, was released before the end of his jail term.