The court placed in the first category Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh for being part of the nucleus which took the decision to assassinate Beant Singh and master-minded it. The rest of the accused were placed in the second category of those who joined the conspiracy by inducement or instigation.

The court said Hawara and Balwant Singh first agreed to kill Beant Singh and then made use of the remaining accused by playing with their religious sentiments in the backdrop of the prevailing situation in Punjab at that time.

Prayers & no unbroken nib

• Sikh bodies such as the Dal Khalsa, Akal Federation, etc, decided to assemble at Akal Takht on August 4 to offer their prayers for those convicted.

• The nib of the pen which wrote the death sentence was not broken in the open court as is the convention since the judge had to pen down certain other observations.

• Defence counsels challenged M S Bitta, President of All India Anti Terrorist Front, to an open debate accusing him of leveling false allegations against them.

• Relatives of the guilty were allowed to meet them before the sentencing as per the directive of the Judge.

Chronology of events

• August 31,1995: Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and 17 others assassinated by human bomb Dilawar Singh outside Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat

• September 1995: Chandigarh police recover an abandoned Ambassador car with Delhi registration number, which leads to arrest of Lakhwinder Singh, following a clue given by a painter

... contd.