Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 24: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal today awarded six years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 35000 to an alleged activist of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) namely Sat Pal Singh, son of Harbajan Singh of Bagwal, Kapurthala, after 17 years long investigation and trial.
According to the police case, Sat Pal after retiring from Army went to Belgium via Mosco and came in contact with Daljit Singh, who happened to be President of ISYF. On the persuasion of Daljit Singh, Sat Pal went to Karachi on fake passport where he underwent extensive training in the camp organized by Pakistan.
After getting training in highly explosive substances for carrying out subversive activities, he entered the Indian Territory on the intervening night of February 17 and 18, 1996. However, he was arrested with arms and ammunition soon after he intruded in the Indian side. Accordingly, a case was registered against him and after completion of investigation challan was presented in the court of law.
After hearing PP Shabir Choudhary for the State and Advocate B S Sudan for the accused person, Principal Sessions Judge observed “in our State as well as in the country innocent people are suffering from the militancy related activities and number of lives of innocent as well as security forces have been lost during the militancy period”, adding “it is an admitted fact that maximum persons are the misguided youth having been swayed by emotions and religious sentiments. Though reformatory process has to be continued till the success is achieved, the courts are also on the trace to reverse the misguided youth by giving chance to come in the main stream of the country”.
With these observations, the Court awarded three years imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000 under 7/25 Arms Act and three years imprisonment and fine of Rs 25,000 under Section 3 EAO. Both the sentences shall run concurrently.