Burail jailbreak: Two Babbar Khalsa terrorists convicted, 14 acquitted in Punjab

Chandigarh (IANS): A trial court here on Tuesday convicted two Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorists but acquitted 14 others in the sensational Burail jailbreak case of January 2004.

BKI chief Jagtar Singh Hawara and BKI terrorist Paramjit Singh Bheora were convicted by the court in the jailbreak conspiracy.

However, both terrorists, who have beenĀ in jail for the last few years, have already served their term, the court observed.

The 14 other accused were acquitted as several witnesses, including prison staff, turned hostile.

In a daring escape, the dreaded terrorists dug a 104-foot-long tunnel from the high security Burail prison here a prison on the intervening night of January 21-22, 2004.

Besides Hawara and Bheora, two other escapees included terrorist Jagtar Singh Tara and murder convict Devi Singh.

Hawara, Bheora and Tara were involved in the assassination conspiracy of then-Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh on August 31, 1995. Beant Singh was blown up by a human bomb.

Hawara and Bheora were arrested later by the Delhi Police while Tara was arrested January this year from Bangkok and brought back to Punjab.