New Delhi, Mar 28: The hanging of Balwant Singh Rajoana, assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, was today stayed by the Centre following a mercy petition by top Sikh religious body SGPC to President Pratibha Patil.
 The Home Ministry, in a letter to the Punjab Government, stated that the execution of 44-year-old Rajoana, scheduled to be carried out on March 31 as per the Chandigarh Sessions Court order, has been stayed.
 The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee had moved the petition under Article 72 of the Constitution for grant of clemency to Rajoana. "As per procedure regarding petitions for mercy in death sentence cases the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana is stayed till the order of the Supreme Court in the matter of Criminal Appeal No 2277/2011 and 1464/2011 or till the order of the President of India on the said mercy petition, whichever is later," the Home ministry communication said.
 The Home Ministry order came soon after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal met President Patil and sought her intervention to secure clemency for Rajoana in the interest of peace and communal harmony in the state as also national interest.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
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