Reprieve for Beant Singh's killer

The Union Home Ministry has commuted the death sentence of Babbar Khalsa terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana who was sentenced to death in 2007 for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The decision has been communicated to the Punjab government and Chandigarh administration, said sources, adding the remission order will be pursued by the Chandigarh administration. "The UT administration will be the one following it up on his remission," a Punjab government official said. Rajoana, 52, who is currently lodged in Patiala Central Jail, is the prime accused in the case and he will now serve life imprisonment. A former Punjab Police constable, Rajoana was sentenced to death on August 1, 2007 by a special CBI court in Chandigarh and his execution was scheduled for March 31, 2012.