Jailbreak: Chaura cross examined

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14

Accused in jailbreak case, Narayan Singh Chaura, used to supply clothes and other items inside Burail jail to assassins of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant SIngh. Chaura was cross examined in the court today.

While he did not admit to his involvement in the jailbreak case, he admitted to the fact that he had supplied a 70 metre-long cloth to the accused as he used to meet them in jail.

Chura said that he had been a regular visitor of accused Babbar Khalsa international chief Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora, Jagtar Singh Tara — assassins of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh at Burail Jail. He also admitted to handing over articles, including pagdis (turban cloth), shirts, food items at various occasions during his visit to the jail.

Chaura allegedly played a major role in the jail break. As per the police, Chaura, allegedly on the instructions of Hawara, had reached the rear side of the jail and had thrown a chain on the electric wires, supplying electricity to the jail. This had caused a blackout in the jail and taking the benefit of the darkness, Hawara had others managed to flee.

The case has now been adjourned to July 20.

Narain Singh Chaura, was arrested in 2013 in Amritsar by the Punjab Police after he remained absconding in the case for many years and was declared a Proclaimed Offender.

Chaura was the mastermind in the January 2004 Burail jailbreak in which Babbar Khalsa International terrorists Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora along with their two accomplices Jagtar Singh Tara and Devi Singh had escaped by digging a tunnel.