NEW DELHI: The mastermind behind the Indian Airlines Hijack that took place in 1984, Parminder Singh Saini, has finally been deported to India from Canada, where he took refuge 15 years ago.
46 year old Saini was escorted by Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) officials till the Toronto Airport where he finally boarded his flight (airlines not known) to India.
The troupe of 6 militants headed by Saini, on July 6, 1984, hijacked a Delhi bound flight after it took off from Srinagar and took it to Lahore. The plane had 255 passengers on board. The 17 hour long trauma for the passengers ended with the surrender of the hijackers to the authorities of Pakistan.
Saini underwent a trial in a court in Lahore and was awarded death penalty which was later reduced to life term.10 years later he was released and asked to leave Pakistan.
After leaving Pakistan in 1995, Saini illegally entered Canada with a fake name and passport. He lived in Canada with a fake Afghan Passport and by the name Balbir Singh and justified the act by saying he feared his deportation to India.
In Canada, even as he fought his deportation order, he earned BA and law degrees and was attached to his brother's immigration consultancy firm Singh and Associates located in Mississauga (outskirts of Toronto).
Saini's application to the Law Society of Upper Canada to allow him to practice law there, however, was rejected, earlier this Jan on grounds of his past criminal record and identity faux, saying he had failed to prove his character as a genuine person and hence could not be permitted to practice law.
He appeared before the Law Society last year and said he regretted whatever he did in the past but deserved another chance to start afresh.
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