Patiala, Mar 14 (PTI) The execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a co-accused in the killing of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995, may be delayed as a trial in a local court is pending against him. Additional District and Session Judge, Chandigarh, Shalini Nagpal had last week issued a warrant of death sentence against Balwant Singh. According to the warrant, Balwant will be hanged on March 31 in Patiala Central Jail. Jail sources said they have written to the Punjab DGP (Jails) seeking clarification on whether a death warrant can be carried out when a case is under judicial process against a convict. Human rights activist and lawyer Barjinder Singh Sodhi has questioned the order for execution of Balwant Singh as a case against him, relating to explosives, was still pending. “If the case against him is dismissed by the court and new legal aspects are raised, then what will happen,” he told reporters today. There is also the question of who will hang Balwant as Punjab has no hangman currently. The jail authorities have raised this matter as well. Balwant himself had requested a court to fix the date for his execution, and the judge signed the death warrant that he should be hanged in Patiala Central Jail on March 31 at 9 am.
Source: IBN Live
