Rajoana Village, Punjab:
It is barely an hour's drive to Rajoana village from Ludhiana. Once the hotbed of militancy, it was a picture of calm and peace on Thursday, the morning after Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence was stayed by the Centre. The only visible signs that something was happening in this village, was the line of saffron flags on each home, the saffron turbans and dupattas.
The
sarpanch, or village head, Jagdeep Singh, told us, "We lit up the night sky with fire crackers. We are relieved that the death sentence has been stayed."
We joined a group of elders sitting on
charpais, reading the morning papers. Though the headlines varied, it was the 'son of the village' who dominated the big story. It's also what dominated the morning conversation.
"Balwant has already served 17 years in jail. That's much more than the life imprisonment sentence people undergo. He should be released now", says Avtar Singh, his uncle. When we remind him that his death sentence has only been stayed, he says, "First, they should ensure justice for all those who suffered in the aftermath of the '84 riots. Then let them talk about punishing him."
Sarpanch Jagdeep Singh adds, "It always seems like there is one law for the politicians, for the powerful, and another one for others."
"So where did all this anger come from?" we ask. "Balwant has always been a soft-spoken person. Did you know he lost his father to militancy? He saw what was happening around, innocent youth getting killed. That's when he decided to do what he did. Whenever I've met him in prison, he's told me that the only way forward is through peaceful means. Even in his letter yesterday he advised the youth to stay away from taking up arms."
Through the entire conversation, one man stays silent - Kulwant Singh, Balwant's brother. He listens in but doesn't want to make a comment. The
sarpanch tells us he still vividly remembers the days the police took him into custody for interrogation and questioned him on Balwant's whereabouts. Since Kulwant had no idea what his brother was really up to, he was of no help to the police. He was eventually allowed to go around the same time his brother was arrested.
Just then a group of youngsters in saffron turbans approach the group with sweets in their hands. Kulwant Singh stops them, "No sweets till Balwant comes home. This is just the first step."
Balwant Singh Rajoana's home is undergoing renovation though he wouldn't know all that has changed in his village since he was arrested in December 1995. On death row since 2007 and lodged in Patiala Central Jail, Balwant Singh Rajoana himself is not in favour of commuting his death sentence. In letter after hand-written letter that he sends with his sister Kamaljit Kaur every afternoon outside the jail, he insists he's not looking for mercy.
Whatever the debate over his clemency plea, it's ironic that a man who got a job with the police force on compassionate grounds after he lost his father to militancy, decided to take to the same extremist path as a young adult.