Amritsar: All the 40 accused, including six women, in the “Operation Black Thunder” case were on Jan. 23 ordered to be released by a special court there. Besides sedition, murder and attempt to murder, the accused were charged for “waging war against India.” The case was registered soon after “Operation Black Thunder” in May, 1988. The designated court judge, S.S. Grewal, discharged the case accepting the pleas of the defense counsel that prosecution failed to make out any case against the accused. The judge said that “there is no sufficient ground for the prosecution against the accused and they stand discharged.” Among those who were facing trial were the Panthic committee spokesman, Bhai Nirver Singh, two militants, Milikiat Singh Ajnala and Bhai Chanchal Singh, who surrendered to the security forces. The women included the wives of some militants, including Bhai Surjit Singh Painta and Bhai Milikiat Singh (Times of India, Jan.24).
