India    28-Jul-2007

Six persons out of a group of nine accused in the assassination case of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh were found guilty by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) Ravi Kumar Sondhi. Jagtar Singh Hawara, Shamsher Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Balwant Singh, and Gurmeet Singh were held guilty on charges of murder, attempt to murder, abetment to suicide, criminal conspiracy and under sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Explosives Act. Nasib Singh was held guilty only under Section 5 of the Explosives Act. Nasib Singh who was also accused of murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and abetment to suicide, was acquitted owing to lack of evidence.

---

India    31-Jul-2007

The Additional District and Sessions Judge in Chandigarh awarded death sentence to Jagtar Singh Hawara of the BKI and Balwant Singh, two of the six declared guilty in the Beant Singh assassination case. Three other convicts, Gurmeet, Lakhwinder and Shamsher Singh, were awarded life imprisonment for their involvement in the criminal conspiracy, while the sixth convict, Naseeb Singh, was given 10 years of imprisonment under the Explosives Act along with a fine of INR 10,000.

---