Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, on Saturday, anunced that on occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, Punjab government would release 550 prisoners as a humanitarian gesture. Most of prisoners were convicted by various courts in country for offences committed during militancy period in Punjab. 

Remission of nine prisoners

According to a statement, while making anuncement, Singh also thanked Home Minister Amit Shah for accepting state government’s proposal to grant special remission to nine Sikh prisoners across country on historic occasion and for supporting it. He also appreciated  centre for accepting state’s plea to release TA prisoners who h completed ir sentence and whose release was t perceived to be prejudicial to peace and security of Punjab or country.

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‘Goodwill gesture’

In a letter that Singh h written to Shah on September 14, CM h requested central government to accept proposal on humanitarian grounds. It said that move would be implemented as a ‘goodwill gesture.’

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statement also said, “ Centre has w decided to commute death sentence of one prisoner to life sentence and prematurely release eight ors.” Singh, while expressing his gratitude towards government, said that se prisoners are w old men and deserve a chance to reunite with ir families and spend rest of ir lives with m. He also said that men do t pose any danger to society in any way and that Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary was perfect occasion to release m, thus following first Sikh Guru's ideology of compassion.

Following permission from Home Ministry, information about  release of Sikh prisoners was communicated to concerned state governments and Union Territories.

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(With ANI Inputs)