On Tuesday 18 March, Patiala Police arrested six Sikhs, claiming they were members of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and that they had uncovered a terror plot ahead of the coming elections. This kind of high drama is usually found in books and films, but Punjab Police really are a law unto themselves, when they spin such plots in which innocent men are framed and the lives of many are ruined.
The six Sikhs have been identified as; Gurdeep Singh (Alampur), Amarjit Singh (Mirzapur), Jasvir Singh (Hulkan), Samardeep Singh (Gigemajra), Sucha Singh (Khudda Ali Sher) and Harjinder Singh (Burail). The judicial magistrate has granted the police six days of remand. Many of you will know that the ‘remand’ period is usually the time when the Police may inflict physical and emotional torture, as during this period the detainee, in effect, becomes ‘invisible’ – no visits from family or lawyers allowed until the police have finished their ‘questioning’.
In what can only be described as pure fantasy, it is said the accused were plotting to target VIPs, including the controversial cult leader Piara Bhaniarawala, and to ‘strike terror’ in Punjab ahead of the polls. SHO Bikramjit Brar went as far as suggesting the group were in touch with various ‘terror modules’ settled abroad. He added, “Gurdeep Singh, Amarjit Singh and Jasvir Singh were presently on bail and had established liaison among themselves to revive terrorist activities in the state and had also motivated some persons with a criminal background to join their terrorist module”.
It is with a heavy heart we tell our readers, that one of those arrested, Amarjit Singh, is the father of 9 year old Harneet who last year with the tremendous support of the Sangat, underwent a major operation for the treatment of cancer in her leg. Harneet is Amarjit Singh and Davinder Kaur’s only child and they have been nursing her at home in this critical recovery period. SOPW have been supporting Amarjit Singh and his family, since he was serving a 5 year sentence for another case he had been framed in, when he learnt of his daughter’s serious condition. He came out on bail last year and was dedicating all his time and effort to help his precious daughter regain her health. Now, in a further twist of fate, Davinder Kaur has been left alone again, to cope with stress that Amarjit Singh’s arrest will bring. Talking about Amarjit Singh, SHO Brar said that “he is closely associated with many BKI activists and we are sure to get more leads from his questioning”. We are all aware what is meant by ‘police questioning’ and urge the Sangat to join us in praying for the Chardi Kalla of these Sikhs and to give them and their families, the strength to get through the difficult period ahead.
The authenticity of these police claims is totally unfounded and come at a time when election fever is in full swing. The notorious Punjab Government has been widely reported to use drugs and alcohol to sway voters to their favour. Could it be that by promoting the fear of a return to violence in Punjab, followed by this public show of arrests, is being used to distract the voters of Punjab from the real issues. Corruption, drugs addiction, farmer suicide, electricity shortages and lack of economic development are among the many problems facing Punjabi’s, that the State Government at the very best chooses to ignore and in some cases, actually has a hand in promoting.
Source: SOPW