Burail Jailbreak Case: Authorities fail to produce Bhai Tara in Court

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Burail Jail authorities failed to produce Sikh freedom fighter Bhai Jagtar Singh Tara in Court on Tuesday in connection with the Burail jailbreak case, and sought time till Wednesday to produce him.

The jail authorities told the court that Tara was under restriction to move out of Burail Jail as Section 268 of the CrPC, imposed on him when he was first arrested for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant “Singh” in 1995 was still valid.  Section 268 states that … “person shall not be removed from prison till the completion of the trial”.

The jail authorities have now urged Punjab government for relaxation of Section 268 imposed on Bhai Tara so that he can be produced before the court. The operations cell of the Chandigarh police has also moved an application before the state government seeking relaxation so that they can start interrogations in the Burail jailbreak case.

The Court has issued fresh production warrants for Bhai Tara directing the jail authorities to produce him in court on Wednesday when the plea seeking his police remand will come up for hearing. The production warrants for Bhai Tara have been issued after his counsel told court that he is unaware whether Bhai Tara has actually engaged him as his counsel or not. The court had first issued warrants on Monday and again issued warrants on Tuesday.

The appeal seeking his custody was moved by the operations cell of the Chandigarh police last week after Duty Magistrate Harpreet Kaur had rejected the police remand of (Bhai) Tara on February 17.

The Chandigarh police had moved the appeal stating that the lower court had “prevented and curtailed” the police from investigating the jailbreak case in a proper manner. During his brief interrogation in the case, held on court’s permission on February 17,  Tara had revealed some more information, which, the police state, may be important in the investigation.