12 convicted for ’87 Ludhiana bank heist

[Azaad]

A local court today convicted the former president of the Sikh Students Federation, Daljit Singh Bittu and his close associate Gursharan Singh Gamma for the country's biggest bank robbery of Rs 5.70 crore that took place in 1987. All of them were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. The case ended after 25 years. As many as 196 witnesses were cross-examined by the CBI. Of the looted money, Rs 60 lakh were recovered within days of the crime.

The others convicted in the case are: Harjinder Singh of Lalton village in Ludhiana, Balwinder Singh of Tahl village in Jalandhar, Mohan Singh of Katran Kala village of Jalandhar, Saroop Singh of Basrampur village in Jalandhar, Gurjant Singh of Kothe Sher Jang Road, Jagraon, Ludhiana, Avtar Singh of Kurali, Jalandhar, Harbhajan Singh of Sarin Village in Jalandhar, Sewa Singh of Chakran Raju Singh village in Hoshiarpur, Assa Singh of Badala Mahi in Hoshiarpur and Maan Singh of Bhajan Nagar, Ludhiana.

The TADA Court's Special Judge, Sunil Arora, pronouncing the judgment, said: "It has been clearly establised that the dacoity in the bank was committed with the intention to either overawe the government or to strike terror in a section of the people."

Bittu and Gamma's identity had been "clearly established by the prosecution" the judge said. On February 12, 1987, Bittu and his accomplices entered the Millarganj branch of the Punjab National Bank in Ludhiana at around 9.45 am. They were in police uniform.

They left with the bank money without firing a shot and injuring none. They took away old currency notes, not touching the new ones valued at Rs 10 crore, the then chief manager of the bank, SN Malhotra, had said in his complaint to the police. He had said the robbers, claiming to belong to the Khalistan Commando Force, overpowered the guard and threatened the bank employees and customers who were made to sit on the floor. During investigations, Malhotra had identified both Bittu and Gamma.

[Unbreakable]

Hogwash

Only Sikhs are sent to jails in India

[lsingh]

One Sikh is in his 90's several in their 70's and 60's. This is a big injustice that is not getting much coverage. TADA evidence is unreliable

[Mehtab Singh]

TADA designated court of Sunil Kumar Arora, Additional Sessions Judge (Ludhaina) has sentenced 12 Sikhs to undergo ten years imprisonment in a bank robbery case under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. It took more than 25 years for the trial to conclude in this case. The incident dates back to 1987. On February 12, 1987 a Ludhiana branch of Punjab National Bank was robbed.

Harjinder Singh Kali (47) R/O VPO Latlon, Distt. Ludhiana;

Daljit Singh Bittu (52) R/O Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana;

Gursharan Singh Gamma (57) R/O VPO Rattan, Distt. Ludhiana;

Balwinder Singh (60) R/O VPO Tahli, Jalandhar;

Mohan Singh Mohani (71) R/O VPO Katran Kalan, Distt. Jalandhar;

Saroop Singh (63) R/O VPO Bisrampur, Jalandhar;

Gurjant Singh (70) R/O VPO Kothe Jang Road, Ludhiana;

Avtar Singh (75) R/O VPO Kurali, Jalandhar;

Harbhajan Singh (83) R/O VPO Sarih, Jalandhar;

Sewa Singh (72) VPO Chak Raju Singh, Hoshiarpur;

Assa Singh (93) R/O VPO Wadala Mahi, Hoshiarpur;

Maan Singh (68) Bhagwan Nagar, Ludhiana are all sentenced to 10 years under under the provisions of TADA.

TADA act was repealed a while back but looks like it has taken re-birth when it came to punishing Sikhs. Bapu Assa Singh can't even walk, yet he was taken into custody.

India: 93 years old Sikh sentenced for 10 years rigorous imprisonment under TADA - http://www.sikhsiyas...ent-under-tada/

[Premi5]

Disgraceful

[jang123]

rule of oppression :|

[singh135]

These are defenceless old men.

[lsingh]

There cases need to be taken up by the Sikh organisations and the public should react as whan Bhai Rajoana was sentenced to death. Sikhs in their 90's are being jailed whilst mass murders like Kishori lala are set free.

[acsap]

Sikhs are treated worse than slaves in India

[HSD2]

Still no justice for 1984.