Beant assassin Hawara ‘declines’ two-day parole offer, Bittu says Centre making arrangements

Jagtar Singh Hawara, convicted for assassinating former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, has rejected the two-day parole offered by the Delhi Prison Department to visit his ailing mother, according to two sources. Hawara, serving a life sentence for the blast at Chandigarh's civil secretariat on August 31, 1995, that killed Beant Singh and 16 others, remains imprisoned in Delhi's Mandoli jail.

The Union Home Ministry officials informed him on Wednesday evening that his high-risk prisoner status necessitates extra security for any movement outside prison. Convener of Quami Insaf Morcha, Pal Singh France, mentioned that officials proposed sending Hawara home for two days, but he declined, stating he wouldn't accept even a one-day parole regardless of his mother's condition.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had urged for a 10-day parole for Hawara, France added. Manpreet Singh Ayali, an Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) leader, claimed the Centre was preventing Hawara from visiting his mother. However, activist and lawyer Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, and former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, denied these claims.

Bittu, Beant Singh's grandson, expressed willingness to allow Hawara to meet his mother, urging restraint in political commentary.