Amritsar – After a struggle lasting a quarter of a centuary, Bhai Gurdeep Singh Khera, convicted in two separate cases under TADA in 1996 and 2001, was finally brought to Punjab from Karnataka tonight.
He was brought in a train that stopped at the Ludhiana station for a few minutes en route to Amritsar where Bapu Surat Singh Sangharsh Committee members and Sikh sangat was awaiting to see a glimpse of Bhai Gurdeep Singh. Those present included Bhai Ravinderjeet Singh Gogi, Bibi Sarvarinder Kaur, Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala and others.
Bhai Gurdeep Singh waived at his supporters who were holding placards demanding his release from the jail. Bhai Sahib said he was happy to be back in Punjab after 25 years. His transfer was being awaited since earlier this week.
The police and intelligence agencies remained tight-lipped about the transfer. The decision to transfer him to Amritsar Jail at midnight was taken at a meeting of senior police officers.
The midnight shifting was aimed at avoiding confrontation following Hindu radical groups’ threat to stage a protest on his arrival in Punjab. The Congress and the ruling alliance partner BJP had been opposing the decision to shift Bhai Gurdeep Singh to Punjab. Bhai Gurdeep Singh said all Sikh prisoners should be released at the earliest as they had committed no crime.