PATIALA: Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death row convict in the assassination case of former Punjab CM Beant Singh, started a hunger strike in Patiala jail, urging the withdrawal of a mercy petition filed by SGPC on his behalf 12 years ago.
Despite spending nearly 28 years in prison, the decision to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment remained pending.
Rajoana declared his intention to continue the hunger strike until the mercy plea was withdrawn, attributing responsibility to Jathedar Akal Takht and SGPC President. The Superintendent of Central Jail Patiala, Manjit Singh Sidhu, confirmed Rajoana's hunger strike and refusal to consume food.