Bhagat Singh, one of the tallest pre-independence icon, was convicted in two major cases. One of them led to his execution at the young age of 23. The cases in which the 'Shaheed-e-Azam' was involved had rattled the colonial British government in the state. Although they were able to overcome the attempt by Singh's Hindustan Republican Socialist Association (HRSA) to launch an armed uprising, the foreign regime had apprehended the danger which Singh posed to their existence in India. Was Bhagat Singh a Communist? Here's All About Shaheed-e-Azam's Political Ideology.

Which Were Major The Cases Filed Against Bhagat Singh?

- Lahore Conspiracy Case, 1928: The conspiracy to kill the then Lahore Superintendent of Police, James A Scott, was hatched after Lala Lajpat Rai died. The 'Punjab Kesari', as Rai was popularly referred to, was leading a protest in Lahore against the Simon Commission. During the protest, Scott had ordered a "lathi charge" in which Rai was injured. Days later, he died of cardiac arrest.

To avenge Rai's death, Singh along with other members of the HRSA conspired to assassinate Scott. Although Singh was the key plotter, the murder was to be executed by Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar and Chandrashekhar Azad.

On December 17, 1928, the trio had set out as per the plan to assassinate Scott. However, they ended mistaking his identity and shot Assistant Superintendent of Police, John P. Saunders The slain ASP had no role in the lathi charge against Rai and other protesters.

In the trial against Singh, which was carried out after his arrest in the 1929 assembly bombing incident, he was convicted of murder charges and sent to the gallows.

- 1929 Assembly Bombing Incident: Singh, along with Batukeshwar Dutt, sat in the visitors' gallery of the Central Legislative Assembly (CLA), which houses the present-day Lok Sabha, to hear the proceedings over a legislation which the British-run Indian Parliament had tabled to deport Communists.

It was the day of April 8, 1929, when Singh and Dutt threw low-intensity bombs while the House was in session. After a ruckus was created, they dropped pink pamphlets proclaiming the message of socialism and freedom from the British rule.

Singh and Dutt surrendered before the police following the incident. The prosecutors invoked the charges of attempt to murder against them, alleging that they were armed and were seen brandishing guns. The additional charge was outrightly rejected by the accused. However, they were convicted and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment.

Which Indian Testified Against Bhagat Singh?

Sobhan Singh, the father of journalist and writer Khushwant Singh, had testified in the court that he witnessed Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bomb inside the assembly. Critics allege that his testament was maliciously used by the prosecution to convict Singh and Dutt of attempting to cause death and destruction. Years later, Khushwant Singh struck back at historians blaming his father for Bhagat Singh's fate. "My father had only spoken the truth and narrated what he had seen," he had said.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2019 07:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).