Sikh Human Rights Abuses

NEWS BULLETIN - 22.2.2001 TO 6.4.2001

1. Punjab Police trucks have been seen supplying construction material to private building contractors in Chandigarh, reports Chandigarh Newsline, Indian Express, dated Feb21, 2001. It reported that Punjab Police truck No.PB-11-3198 was spotted while unloading building material at a private construction site. This startling fact gives weightage to the allegations of rampant corruption and illegal activities of lower rank police men in Punjab police. However, till 10.3.2001, no action has been taken against any truck driver by the Punjab Police in this regard. ----- Chandigarh Newsline, Indian Express, Chd. 21.2.2001

2. A poor mason named Rakhdev, hailing from Uttar Pradesh who was alleged by the Punjab Police of having kidnapped a girl in Ludhiana and later killing him has been killed in a Police encounter on 19th February, 2001. In a press conference, the SSP, Ludhiana declared that after his arrest, when the accused was being taken for the recovery of firearm used in the crime, he took out the weapon from the place where he had buried it and fired at the police party. In the ensuing encounter, no policemen was hurt, but the accused was killed cold-bloodedly. Interestingly, this encounter took place immediately after the police produced him in a press conference and took him for recovery of the weapon. Later many residents of Ludhiana held a protest demonstration alleging that the encounter was fake and that the accused had been killed by the police cold-bloodedly. But the police denied this allegation.----- Indian Express, Chd. 20.2.2001

3. The death of a mentally challenged Pakistani national, Farooq after he was thrashed by his cellmate in Amritsar Central Jail on 2.2.2001 has put question mark on jail conditions in Punjab. Hindustan Times,Chd. Dated 21.2.2001 reports that there was serious lapses on the part of the jail staff and had the victim been noticed earlier, he could have been saved. One precious life has been lost due to the negligence of the jail staff. No action has been taken either by the jail department or the Punjab State Human Rights Commission in this case.-----Hindustan Times, Chd. 21.2.2001

4. The prisoners of Central Jail, Ludhiana are crying loud at the lack of medical staff, facilities and other basic needs, reports Indian Express, Chd. Dated 23.2.2001

5. Many Human Rights Organisations in Punjab have taken strong note of the false implication of a human rights activist Narain Singh of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur by the Gurdaspur Police. PHRO Chairman, Justice Ajit Singh Bains, Amar Singh Chahal of Lawyers For Human Rights International and many other organisations have condemned the Punjab police of falsely implicating the said activist in false criminal case. ---- Indian Express, Chd. Dated 23.2.2001

6. Punjab Police commandos are fighting unfit and suffering from one or the other ailment----reports Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 21.2.2001

7. The Punjab Police III Commando Battalion Commandant A.K.Mittal, has directed his commando S.I. Ajmer Singh to join investigation into his role in raping a woman in Kharar few days ago. The Kharar police had arrested the lady while impersonating as a Police Sub-Inspector and during her custodial interrogation, she told that she had been raped by S.I. Ajmer Singh and allured of giving job in Punjab Police.-----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 23.2.2001

8. As per Punjab Human Rights Commission's study, incidents of rape with children are on the rise in Punjab.-----Indian Express,Chd.24.2.2001

9. High Court of Punjab & Haryana has ordered a CBI probe into the murder of Congress leader Harmesh Kumar Mukhija at Dharamkot in Moga in November, 2000.-----The Tribune,Chd. Dated Feb.25.2.2001

10. A news report in Hindustan Times tells that 165 Senior Police officials in Punjab Police have not been paid their salaries for the last four months because their posts are yet to be approved by the Police department. It would not be unfair for these police officials to adopt other source of income, like extortions, bribes etc.-----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 25.2.2001

11. On 25.2.2001 a Sub-Inspector Jagjit Singh, Incharge of Ghumar Mandi Police Post in Ludhiana created a scene by misbehaving and threatening the people under the influence of liquor. After complaints were made against him by the public, the S.P. has ordered a departmental inquiry against the cop. Its' althogether different that a common man conducting himself in a similar way is bound to be booked under Section 109 Cr.P.C. ( creating nuisance in a public place), but the law seems to be different for Punjab Police. ------Indian Express, Chd. Dated 26.2.2001

12. A woman Constable of Punjab Police, Paramjit Kaur posted at Patiala filed a Petition in High Court in Feb.2001, seeking the registration of a criminal case against SSP Patiala and two other policemen for illegally detaining her and forcing her to vacate the govt. quarter allotted to her. The High Court has issued notice on her petition to the State of Punjab.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 27.2.2001

13. A dalit boy, Gursaheb Singh of Bhikhiwind in Amritsar district was picked up by SHO of Police Station Bhikhiwind, Gian Singh on Feb.22,2001 from his home on the charge of being a friend of an accused who had abducted a young girl of an influential person from the village . Gursaheb Singh was badly tortured and when his condition became serious, he was thrown back at his house and he is now undergoing treatment in a private hospital.------Indian Express, Chd. Dated 28.2.2001

14. 16 Senior Police officers of Punjab police have been promoted by the Punjab government. Among those promoted are many tainted police officials who were allegedly responsible for killing many youths in fake police encounters.----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 28.2.2001

15. The Punjab police wants to introduce the DGP commendation roll to honour those police officers who have done exceedingly well while on duty.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 28.2.2001

16. A Lans Naik A.K.Giri of BSF posted in the border area of Ferozepur who was under mental disorder shot dead his colleague Inspector Jarnail Singh of BSF on 25.2.2001. Later on he was also killed by the BSF men in the encounter. Another news report found out that he was suffering from mental disorder and had been given the job of bringing water for the battallion, but when he was posted on the guard duty at border, he grew furious and shot dead the senior officer.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 26.2.2001 and Hindustan Times, dated 1.3.2001

17. The bail application of DIG(Patiala range) Mr.Sanjeev Gupta was dismissed by the Special CBI court, Patiala, Mr.Jaspinder Singh Hayer on 28.2.2001. Mr.Sanjeev Gupta has been charged alongwith four other police officers by the CBI of abducting and making disappear an alleged militant Sukhdev Singh Sukha in July, 1993. But interestingly, after rejection of his regular bail application, the Court allowed him to go till he applies for regular bail before the Sessions Judge, Patiala. ------Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 1.3.2001

18. A Special CBI court in Patiala issued non-bailable arrest warrants against seven Punjab policemen on 28.2.2001 in a case relating to alleged kidnapping and subsequent murder of one Harjit Singh, a resident of Vill.Thathian in Baba Bakala Police Station in Amritsar district on April 29, 1992. The cops are: S.I. Dharma Singh and Amrik Singh, ASI Ram Lubhaya, Surinder Singh, Gurdip Singh, Bhupinder Singh and dismissed constable Satbir Singh.-----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 1.3.2001

19. The Sessions Judge, Patiala granted regular bail to DIG Mr.Sanjeev Gupta in the case relating to abduction and disappearance of Sukhdev Singh Sukha, an alleged militant who was done to death by the Punjab police in fake encounter.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 3.3.2001

20. A news report appearing in The Times of India, Chd. Says that more than 600 policemen are facing court cases of human rights violations in 750 cases relating to militancy period . According to police sources, more than 1400 petitions have been disposed off in the last five years. KPS Gill, the former Police chief has sought blanket clemency for the police officers facing court cases.----The Times of India, Chd. Dated 3.3.2001

21. Punjab State Human Rights Commission has recommended to the State government for the registration of criminal case against Sub-Inspector Mohinder Singh and ASI Amar Singh for abduction and torture of Gurmeet Singh and Swinder Singh of Faridkot on July 4, 1999. According to the Complainant, the SHO and the ASI were pressurising him to withdraw the case which was pending in the CBI court in Patiala against them. The SHO had threatened him that his whole family would be eliminated in a fake encounter.----The Times of India, Chd. Dated 3.3.2001

22. Anti-women crime graph soars in Jalandhar, reports Indian Express, Chd. Dated 5.3.2001 on the eve of International day of Women empowerment. It states that a total 1000 cases relating to crime against women were registered in Jalandhar during 2000-2001 as compared to 780 during 1999-2000. In 1997 the number of such cases was 5000 and in 1998 it were 700. Majority of complaints related to dowry harassment, others related to sexual abuse or harassment by family members other than the husbands. Molestation, eve teasing etc have also been recorded.-----Indian Express, Chd. Dated 5.3.2001

23. The High Court has issued notice of motion to State of Punjab on a petition filed by Lawyers For Human Rights International seeking CBI inquiry into the custodial death of a dalit youth of Morinda, Jaspal Singh on Feb.6-7, 2001.----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 6.3.2001

24. The Punjab & Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition of five policemen of Punjab Police seeking quashing of a murder case against them on the ground that previous sanction of the Central Government is not necessary for prosecuting policemen who had killed four persons in a fake encounter. It was alleged by the CBI in the chargesheet filed against five policemen in the CBI Court at Patiala that ASI Balbir Singh and four others had killed four persons including Gulshan Kumar in a false encounter on July 23, 1993. CBI inquiry found the encounter to be a fake one and booked five police policemen under Section 364(abduction),302(murder),34, 120-B, 201 and 218 of IPC. The five policemen are undertrials in the above case in CBI court in Patiala.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 6.3.2001

25. CBI has filed another chargesheet against 7 Punjab policemen in the CBI court in Patiala on March 6, 2001 in a case relating to the elimination of five innocent persons of Khoharke village in Taran Taran of Amritsar district on 28th December, 1992. The killed had been identified as Aroor Singh, Resham Singh and Ram Singh. The policemen chargesheeted by the CBI includes DSP Ashok Kumar, Inspector Jagdeep Singh, SI Raj Kumar and Amarjit Singh, ASIs Nachattar Pal Singh and Balwinder Singh and Constable Dalbir Singh. The Police had cooked up the story that the four militants were killed in a fierce encounter that took place between them in December, 1992. But the CBI inquiry held that no such encounter took place and the four victims were shot dead in their head at point blank range by the Policemen. The dead bodies of the victims were also not handed over to the families.-----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 7.3.2001

26. 10 Army jawans have been booked for beating up a couple at the railway Station, Amritsar on March 3, 2001. The reason for the beating was that the couple who had a reserved seat in the train had asked the army jawans to vacate their seat which the army men had illegally occupied. This annoyed the jawans who beat the husband and when wife intervened to stop them, she was also thrashed.----Indian Express, Chd. Dated 7.3.2001

27. The Ludhiana Police filed a chargesheet against One Police Inspector of Punjab Police and seven other persons for murdering a youth Avtar Singh of Ludhiana on 7th January, 2001. The Chargesheet which was filed in the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ludhiana alleged that Inspector Gurmeet Singh "Pinky" who was an ex-militant and had been absorbed into Punjab Police alongwith seven other persons had shot dead Avtar Singh of Ludhiana when the latter objected to their drinking session on a Public road. The Police Inspector alongwith seven others are at present lodged in Ludhiana Central Jail.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 7.3.2001

28. A dalit youth Maninderjit Singh, resident of Vill.Kohali, district Amritsar was beaten to death by a school principal, teachers and peon and the police on March 6, 2001. According to the villagers, the victim was brutally beaten by the Police men and the employees of the school. A case of murder has been registered against Head Constable Darbara Singh of P.S.Lopoke,Distt.Amritsar, Principal of the school and chowkidar of the school. But so far no arrests have been made by the Police.------
The Tribune, Chd. Dated 8.3.2001

29. The CBI Court in Patiala granted bail to DSP Jagtar Singh of Punjab Police in a case of abduction and disappearance of a militant Sukhdev Singh Sukha in 1993. He is a co-accused in the said case alongwith DIG Sanjeev Gupta and seven others who are on bail.-----The Tribune, Chd. Dated 8.3.2001

30. Various human rights bodies including Committee for Co-ordination on disappearances in Punjab and PHRO and Lawyers For Human Rights International have once again strongly condemned the false implication of a human rights activist Narain Singh by Gurdaspur Police at the instance of Nirmal Singh Kahlon, a minister in SAD ministry.-----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 8.3.2001

31. The Lok Sabha was informed by the Minister of State for personnel and public grievances,Govt.of India, Mr.Vasundhara Raje on March 7, 2001 that a total number of 1555 cases are pending before the CBI for investigation while 6000 cases filed by the CBI are awaiting disposal by courts. -----Hindustan Times, Chd. Dated 8.3.2001

32. The High Court has summoned the SSP,Patiala and SHO Police Station,Dera Bassi to appear and reply before him the charges of illegally detaining and torturing Puran Bahadur and Subhash Chander,both residents of Dappar village in Punjab. A warrant officer of the High Court had got the two detainees released from the illegal police custody.-----The Tribune, Chd. 12.3.2001

33. The Special CBI court, Patiala issued non-bailable arrest warrants against two police personnel in a case involving the disappearance of a Sangrur resident,Tejinder Singh after he was kept in illegal custody in 1993. The police officers are S.I.Rajinder Singh Sohal (now SHO, Police Station, SAS Nagar, Mohali) and Constable Ganda Singh.------The Tribune,Chd.14.3.2001

34. The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has ordered a report by Home Sectt.Punjab for falsely implicating Narain Singh, President of Akal Federation and his family members.----The Tribune,chd.15.3.2001

35. A life convict Pardeep Singh alias Deepa 27, was found dead in Central Jail, Patiala on March 13,2001. Jail inmates suspected foul play in his death while jail authorities describe it as a natural death.-----Hindustan Times,Chd.15.3.2001

36. The Special CBI Magistrate,Patiala Mr.Jaspinder Singh Hyer rejected the bail application of Patiala SP(Detective) M.S.Chahal and two DSP's Ramesh Chander and Jagtar Singh on March 16,2001 in the abduction case of Sukhdev Singh Sukha, a Babbar Khalsa activist.----The Tribune,Chd.16.3.2001

37. On 29.1.2001 there was an incident in Ferozepur jail where more than 70 inmates were beaten and tortured inside the jail by jail staff. The kin of the inmates had alleged that the jail staff had demanded bribe from the inmates for allowing meeting with their relatives and when they refused to give bribe, they were beaten mercilessly. The Sessions Judge,Faridkot had ordered a judicial inquiry to be conducted by CJM, Faridkot, Sukhdarshan Singh Khaira and the CJM, in his inquiry report submitted to the High Court in March, 2001 held that the undertrials are treated like animals in the jail and he found serious bodily injuries on at least 50 inmates.He held that the inmates were asked to come out of their cells, the jail hospital and barracks only to be struck with belts and sticks, apparrently for no particular reason. The inquiry report went sent to High Court, the High Court on March 16,2001 ordered the said report of CJM to be treated as a Criminal Writ Petition and called for stern action against the jail authorities.------The Times of India, 1.2.2001, The Times of India 12.2.2001 and Times of India, 13.3.2001 and The Tribune, Chd.17.3.2001

38. On March, 21,2001 the Sessions Judge, Patiala Mr.S.N.Aggarwal also dismissed their bail applications.But still they were not ordered to be arrested and were granted time till April 5,2001 for getting their bail from the Punjab & Haryana High Court. Interestingly, not even a single case has come to light where the accused having being denied regular bail application on their surrender before the Court, and still they are not arrested by the court rejecting their bail. The Tribune,Chd. 22.3.2001

39. The High Court has issued notice to Advocate General Punjab for April 25,2001 on a petition filed by Surinder Singh, Police Constable of Bhatinda who had alleged that the SSP,Bhatinda Mr.Jatinder Kumar Jain had falsely implicated him in a false case when he refused to toe the line of the SSP.-----The Times of India, Chd. 22.3.2001

40. High Court has directed the SSP,Ropar to get a probe conducted into the allegations of harassment by a police official, Ms.Parvez of Ropar investigating a case by a housewife against her in-laws.----The Tribune,Chd.23.3.2001

41. Justice R.L.Anand of Punjab & Haryana High Court held a surprise visit to the Central Jail, Bhatinda and expressed concern over flaws in NDPS cases and long incarceration of undertrials in such cases.-----Hindustan Times,Chd. 24.3.2001

42. A Jalandhar Hotelier,Janak Raj Chauhan has filed a civil case for the recovery against the district administration, Jalandhar seeking the payment of bill of Rs.2 lakh incurred during the visit of the then Prime Minister of India, Inder Kumar Gujral.----Indian Express, Chd. 24.3.2001

43. The Punjab Police claimed to have arrested a Khalistan Commando Force(Zafarwal) terrorist Sarwan Singh, a resident of Vill.Aulakh in Distt.Gurdaspur on 23.3.2001.----The Tribune,Chd.24.3.2001

44. A suspected un-identified pakistani national was killed while trying to cross over India in the Wagah border sector on 26.3.2001.-----The Hindustan Times, Chd.28.3.2001.

45. On a question being asked about the whereabouts of a young girl Kirandeep Kaur and her fiance of Taran Taran since February, 2000, in the Punjab State Assembly, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ordered the IG to probe the disappearance of the two persons. Laxmi Kanta Chawla, the BJP MLA had alleged that the two persons were liquidated by the influential people of Taran Taran because both of them decided to marry in the inter-caste marriage.------The Times of India, Chd. 28.3.2001.

46. Resentment among non IPS Punjab police officers facing court cases for their acts of violence committed during the militancy period are thinking of filing a PIL in the Supreme Court or High Court for constituting a Commission to look into the circumstances which led to the Punjab turmoil.------Indian Express, Chd. 30.3.2001.

47. A lady Parkash Rani of Jalandhar, had filed a petition in the High Court that a retired DSP of Punjab police is causing harassment and intimidation to her and her family for getting her property. The High Court ordered the CJM, Jalandhar to conduct a judicial inquiry into the allegations of the lady.-----The Tribune, Chd. 30.3.2001

48. On March 20, 2001 a journalist Sat Pal was called to Police Station, Fatehgarh Pantoor of Distt. Moga, where he was illegally detained for the whole night and tortured badly. Next day, when his journalist friends came to his rescue in the police station, they were also misbehaved and a false case of making public nuisance was planted upon Satpal. It has been learnt that he had been writing against Moga police in the past. No policeman has been booked or arrested and their is great resentment in journalists against Punjab Police.-----The Times of India,Chd. 30.3.2001.

49. On 28th March, a mob of people beats up Muncipal staff and sets vehicle afire after they got agitated against the setting the waste garbage on fire in public locality by the MC people. On March 29, a heavy contingent of Jalandhar Police including horse mantled policemen went on rampage and mercilessly beat up residents of Jalandhar for more than two hours in which 15 persons including seven women were seriously injured. But no FIR was registered against the police. Rather a false case was registered against the leader of the mob for damaging public property and the people were forced to enter into a compromise with the police.-----The Hindustan Times, Chd.30.3.2001

50. A 20 year old rape victim of Bhatinda in Punjab has alleged harassment and threatenings by the Punjab police at the behest of certain Akali leaders. In her affidavit filed before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, she has alleged that she was raped by two businessmen including one Kamal Ketak on March 20,2001, who is close to some politicians of ruling party and the police and the accused are intimidating her of implicating her family members in case she did not withdraw her FIR against the accused. The SSP,Bhatinda has marked an inquiry into the allegations by DSP(R) Mr.J.S.Sidhu, but nothing has come out so far.-----The Tribune, Chd. 31.3.2001

51. The Special CBI Court in Patiala, Mr.J.S.Hayer, issued non-bailable arrest warrants against six out of the seven accused police officers involved in a murder of four youths in December, 1992. The six police officers are: DSP Ashok Kumar, Inspector Jagdeep Singh, Sub-Inspector Amarjit Singh, ASIs Nachattar Pal Singh and Balwinder Singh and Constable Dalbir Singh. The police had cooked up a story that the four victims Aroor Singh, an SGPC employee, Resham Singh, a farmer of Khoharke village in Taran Taran, Ram Singh, an under-trial while the fourth youth remained un-identified were terrorists who were shot dead in the fierce police encounter in December, 1993. The CBI inquiry ordered by the High Court found that the victims were abducted, tortured and then done to death in an extra-judicial fashion. All the six police officers are on duty in punjab police, but deliberately avoiding to appear before the CBI Court. Still the court could not do anything.----The Hindustan Times, Chd. 31.3.2001

52. Two old brothers, Surjit Singh(60) and Harnek Singh(50), belonging to Malha Kalan village of Moga have alleged that they were picked up by the police on March 21, 2001 and kept in illegally detention at Nathuwala Police Station and given electric shocks on private parts, flogged with sticks and leather belts. They were picked up at the instance of an Akali leader and the Sarpanch of the village for their inimical behavior with them. They produced themselves before the Judicial Magistrate at Moga, who ordered their medical examination by a board of doctors. The medical examination revealed that Surjit Singh suffered fracture on the upper portion of his left arm while Harnek Singh suffered bruises. The police has denied all allegations. No FIR or arrest has been made so far. ------The Times of India, Chd. 1.4.2001.

53. An Assistant Sub-Inspector, Ravinder Singh of Chandigarh Police has been acquitted by a Sessions Court in Chandigarh . He was charged with the murder of his wife on March 1,1998 by shooting her down with his service revolver. After examining at least 22 witnesses the court held that the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Interestingly, the Chandigarh Police being the prosecuting agency has shown that it will help its own men in any eventuality, may it be a case of murder in a court of law. -----The Tribune, Chd. 2.4.2001

54. On 31.3.2001 a former mililtant Avtar Singh alias "tari" living with his wife in Ludhiana was abducted by a police party in plainclothes and since then his whereabouts are not known. In an affidavit filed by his wife Pinki Walia before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission she has alleged that on 31.3.2001 one Indica car without numberplate and with tinted glasses came to their house in Gobind Nagar, Ludhiana and took Avtar Singh in the presence of one Harjot Singh and since then his whereabouts are not known. She had tried to locate her husband in every police station in Ludhiana but all in vain. When she went to P.S.Division No.5,Ludhiana to lodge the complaint of abduction of her husband, the police refused to register the F.I.R. in the matter. It is apprehended that the victim has been illegally detained in CIA staff, Jagraon, but there is no clue regarding this.-----Indian Express, Chd.1.4.2001

55. The Chandigarh Administration, on the advice of Central Vigilance Commission, has entrusted the investigations into the allegations of corruption and helping the criminal elements against two DSP's and two Inspectors of Chandigarh Police on 30.3.2001.------The Tribune, Chd. 1.4.2001

56. An N.G.O. All India Human Rights Watch and Lawyers For Human Rights International held an investigation into the Custodial death of Nahar Singh, a 35 year old dalit youth in Khanna on March 27, 2001 and found it to be a case of torture death in Police custody. They have demanded a CBI probe into the custodial death. According to the investigations, Nahar Singh(deceased) had left his house on March 25, 2001 and did not return. The Police version that the deceased was booked for carrying poppy husk and remanded to police custody was palpably false. The body claimed that the man was kept in illegal detention and tortured to death. Interestingly, no word of condemnation or inquiry has come from either the D.G.P. Punjab or any other government official. This has brought the total toll of custodial deaths in the State since 1997 to 90 with only four or five cases being investigated by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. In all other cases, the complaints were dismissed for lack of evidence or dis-interest of the relatives of the victims.----The Tribune, Chd. 2.4.2001

57. On 1st April,2001 the Convenor of Movement Against State Represssion, Punjab has written a letter to the Prime Minister to release the details of persons held under legal or illegal detention during the period of militancy in Punjab and other states.-----The Times of India,Chd.3.4.2001.

58. The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered a judicial inquiry by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Moga into the allegations of illegal custody made by Baljit Kaur of Raqba village in Ludhiana Distt. The matter came before the High Court when Joginder Singh, husband of Baljit Kaur made a telegram alleging that his wife is in illegal custody of CIA staff, Moga. Interestingly, the police filed the affidavit of the husband of Baljit Kaur that he had sent the telegram inadvertently and the same may be dismissed. But Justice S.S.Nijjar held that the petitioner was pressurised to give a wrong affidavit and he ordered a judicial inquiry into the role of police in keeping his wife in illegal detention and pressurising him to give an affidavit to save the policemen. ----Indian Express, Chd. 4.4.2001.

59. Three police officers of Punjab police including an SP are deliberately avoiding to appear in the Court of Baljinder Singh, Judicial Magistrate, Faridkot in relation with a criminal complaint of murder of Jawinder Kaur, a pop-singer on 14th June, 1997 by the accused police officers. The father of the girl, Gopal Singh had filed a criminal complaint in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Faridkot in September, 1997 that his daughter Jaswinder Kaur, a known Punjabi singer and dancer was being looked with bad eye by ASI Hardeep Singh, CIA staff, Faridkot to whom they had rented out one room in their house. Soon thereafter, DSP Gurmail Singh and ASI Gurcharan Singh, posted in CIA Staff, Faridkot pressurised his wife to send their daughter Jaswinder with them for merry-making. On her refusal they started threatening her and even abducted two close relatives of the girl. On finding her harassed and seen with bad eyes, the girl ultimately set her ablaze and committed suicide. The police refused to register the FIR against the police, so the father of the victim had to file a private criminal complaint in the court in which the court took the matter seriously and issued warrants of arrest of the three police officers. Those summoned are:ASIs Hardeep Singh and Gurcharan Singh and DSP Gurmail Singh. While the court declared the two police officers proclaimed offender for their repeated absence from the process of law, DSP Gurmail Singh obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court and all the three policemen are at present on duty in Punjab police. ------The Times of India, Chd. 4.4.2001.

60. The High Court granted bail to three senior police officers of Punjab police in the infamous disappearance case of Sukhdev Singh Sukha an alleged militant in 1993. While allowing anticipatory bail to all the three officers,namely SP Mohinder Singh Chahal, DSPs Ramesh Chander and Jagtar Singh, the court observed that the DGP may consider the advisability of placing the officers under suspension and also to transfer SP M.S.Chahal to some other place in order to ensure fair trial in the case. But the DGP has maintained dead silence over this observation of the High Court. It is learnt from reliable sources that the officers are quite happy that this advice has not been accepted by the DGP, because it was the State who had actually funded them for obtaining bail by engaging lawyers of good repute. The lawyers it is said charged more than Rs. 1 lac from each of the petitioner.------Indian Express, Chd. 4.4.2001.

61. As per Punjab police records, there were 122 murders of women or children in 2000 in Punjab against 123 in 1999 and 110 in 1998.There were 187 reported cases of dowry deaths in 2000 while 109 cases were reported in 1999 and 212 in 1998. In 2000 there were 111 cases of suicide by women as compared to 123 cases in 1999 and 120 in 1998. As regards rape cases, there were 204 reported cases of rape in Punjab in 1998, but it rose to 261 cases in 1999 and 310 cases in 2000. Similarly kidnapping cases of girls or women also rose from 207 cases in 1998 to 251 in 1999 and 295 in 2000. Same was the graph in molestation cases. From 108 cases in 1998, the number went to 160 in 1999 and 323 in 2000. Seeing the increasing crime graph against women in the State, the Police has decided to set up special cells for crime against women ------The Tribune,Chd. 4.4.2001.

62. On 5.4.2001 Avtar Singh Tari was shown arrested in a case of theft by the police in CIA staff, Jagraon, Distt.Ludhiana and produced before the Magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody. Earlier his wife had alleged that her husband, a former militant had been abducted by the police and kept in illegal detention in CIA Staff, Jagraon.-----The Hindustan Times,6.4.2001.

ARUNJEEV SINGH WALIA
10.4.2001

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