Hawara to face trial via video-conferencing

CHANDIGARH: The Babbar Khalsa International terrorist, Jagtar Singh Hawara, and Paramjit Singh Bheora, who are facing trial in Burail jailbreak, would now attend the trial proceedings via video conferencing.
A division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed UT administration to ensure that all future hearings of the cases in which the accused were lodged in Tihar jail should be held via video conferencing.
As of now, these BKI terrorists are brought from Tihar jail under heavy security during hearing in the jailbreak case, which creates law and order situation during their transportation from Delhi to Chandigarh.
The division bench, headed by acting chief justice A K Goyal, passed the directions while hearing an ongoing PIL regarding video conferencing in various jails of Punjab, Haryana and UT.
Hawara, was also accused for former Punjab CM Beant Singh's assassination. Both Bheora and Hawara were shifted from Burail to Tihar for the hearing of 2004 bomb blasts in New Delhi. Every time they were produced in the court, UT police had to deploy extra force.
In December, Bheora had told UT district court that cops used to keep him tied with chains in a cabin while bringing him from Tihar. Seeking directions to hold the hearing via video conferencing, he pleaded that the roof of the cabin was too low and he would not be able to survive in case of an accident. However, the court had dismissed the application as the case was pending before HC.