CHANDIGARH, Punjab—On 10 September 2014, under very high security, Narain Singh Chaura (in the grey shirt & navy dastar) and Sher Singh were brought to the Chandigarh Sessions Court of Judge Anubhav Sharma. The case in which they were appearing relates to the famous Burail Jail break in 2004, when Jagtar Singh Hawara, Parmjit Singh Bheora, Jagtar Singh Tara and other co-accused, dug a 94 ft tunnel scaling the outer wall of the prison and escaped. It is alleged that Narain Singh masterminded this plot, however, Narain Singh is a well-respected and highly educated Sikh scholar who has written many books and taken an active lead in human rights work over the years.
During his Court appearance, Narain Singh spoke to the assembled press and said the Punjab Government is using the Unlawful Activities Act (UAPA) to lock up innocent Sikhs in fabricated cases, just as previous governments used the now banned, TADA Act. The Government is robbing innocent people of the best years of their life by burying them under numerous fake charges while their elderly parents’ mature years are wasted waiting for their sons to return home.
Narain Singh and Sher Singh are currently lodged in Amritsar Central Jail and appearing alongside them was Nand Singh who is currently on parole. Jagtar Singh Hawara and Parmjit Singh Bheora who are in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, did not make the journey to this court date. The next date for the hearing has been set for 24th September.
