All three had been arrested for their alleged involvement in incidents of militancy during the 1980s.This was the first review of cases of incarcerated militants since the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government was voted to power in February, 2002. Earlier a review was carried out during the tenure of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and a few militants had then been released.
Two of the militants, who have been allowed to be released now, were arrested during the past three years after they had spent about 12 years leading a “normal” life in Europe and the USA. A top police official, while confirming the move, said in the past decade or so the lives of these persons had been far removed from terrorism. Their names did not crop up in any investigation of nabbed militants and nor were they active.
A total of 21 cases of former militants were considered for review and only three have been cleared by the high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary, Mr Jai Singh Gill. The committee was formed about eight months ago and its deliberations continued till a few weeks ago.
The three had been accused of minor offences which were of no consequence today, said a source. Another factor kept in mind by the committee was that militants could have forced somebody to accompany or help them. Their names cropped up in the FIR and fearing police action they fled the country.
The sources said two of the released persons — Balraj Singh of Nurmahal and Rajdeep Singh, alias Raja, of Nawanshahr — had escaped to foreign countries after they were booked under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention), Act, for separate incidents.
Rajdeep Singh was booked for two separate incidents in 1988. Fearing action, he is believed to have escaped to the USA where his relatives live. Balraj Singh was booked under TADA and the Arms Act after a few cartridges were found on him. He escaped to Belgium and lived there, said the sources. Both had been arrested when they happened to travel to India on some work.
Another case relates to Gurdev Singh, alias Bapu, of Moga. He was undergoing life imprisonment in a case registered against him in 1987. He was also booked under TADA, which has been repealed. His age was considered and he was allowed to be released. Human rights organisations had pleaded that he be released in view of his advancing age.
