Team News Riveting
New Delhi, May 3
The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to commute the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana convicted in the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.
The apex court gave its verdict on former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh assassination case convict Balwant Singh Rajoana’s petition seeking commutation of his death penalty. He had sought commutation of his death sentence on the grounds that the Centre had failed to take a decision on his mercy petition for a considerably long period.
Beant Singh was assassinated in a suicide bomb blast at the secretariat complex in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995. The blast claimed the lives of 17 others including three Indian commandos. Dilawar Singh Babbar of Babbar Khalsa International acted as the suicide bomber.
Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was the backup bomber, was also convicted of the killing. In 2012, a Chandigarh court sentenced Rajoana to death.
A number of Sikhs protested against the decision, and campaigned to stop the execution of Rajoana. On 28 March 2012 the Government of India stayed the execution of Rajoana after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met President Pratibha Patil seeking clemency for him.
