Free After 13 yrs imprisonment, the shackles just won’t go away

Charanjit Singh, 37, now back in his ancestral village of Halwara in Ludhiana district, made no bones about the “faulty” judicial process which jailed him all these years only to declare them innocent lately. However, the court convicted Gian Singh and sentenced him to death on the charge of murder.

Gurmel Singh, 43, of the same village wonders what would be his fate now when the family has sold almost the entire eight acres ofagricultural land paying for and pursuing the case. “Will the courts compensate me for the loss of my 13 youthful years,” asks this graduate in arts.

Leaving it to the law-makers and jurists to debate and decide the wider question of compensation for the years spent in jail facing trial, Charanjit and Gurmel, attired in spotless whites, were keenly looking forward to getting married, but none has come forward with a proposal till date. Jasbir Singh, who was also freed from the maximum security jail Nabha on July 18 last, now has streaks of grey in his flowing beard at 43. “My unflinching faith in God made me take life as it came during the last 13 years,” he said. Residing at his native village Thulliwal, Barnala, Jasbir was in high spirits but not without melancholy over the fate of Gian Singh who faces the death sentence.

Relatives had turned their backs on Charanjit, Gurmel and Jasbir during their years of incarceration, even siblings did not offer support. But, after the acquittal, relatives seemto be coming forward to express sympathies. Inderjit Singh, the younger brother of Gurmel, disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1989. Gurmel alleged in the presence of his 85-year-old father that the police was responsible for disappearance of Inderjit.

Jasbir Singh, a matriculate like Charanjit, was 30-year-old when he was arrested. His son, Parminder was barely five years old at that time.

Both Charanjit and Gurmel, who are thinking of getting life back on the rails, denied having had any connection with militant organisations. On the question of return of militancy, they said that one could never predict future. “It will be good if terrorism does not return,” they added. Jasbir however, holds a section of the militants responsible for derailing the movement by indulging in lootings.

Jasbir Singh said that he lost his mother, Nachhttar Kaur, in 1982 during the pendency of the case. He had filed an application in the court to be allowed to attend her funeral but it was rejected.

Though hehas several well-off relatives, Jasbir Singh said none of them visited him or helped him during his 13-year-long detention. His family servant, Parkash Singh, helped his wife manage their household. While Parkash Singh cultivated about six acres of land under the supervision of Narinder Kaur, about 25 acres of land was given on contract every year for farming. This kept the family going in the bad times, Jasbir Singh said.

While Gurmel and Charanjit refuse to comment on the present day politics, Jasbir turns out to be a bitter critic of the Akali Dal leadership. He alleged that the leaders were exploiting religious sentiments for their political interests.

Nicknamed sardara during his schooldays, Jasbir and Charanjit were kabaddi players. Charanjit even won a gold medal in wrestling in 1983 organised by Panjab University. Jasbir was known for his exploits in the village and was particularly fond of non-vegetarian food and boozed around with friends.

Darshan Singh, alias khalsa, of the samevillage, who was acquitted along with Jasbir Singh, was not willing to talk or meet anybody. He had just returned from his fields at sunset.

The other two involved in the same case, Birender Pal Singh Seholi village and Nirmal Singh of Leerra village in Ludhiana district, were not available for the interview.