CHANDIGARH, India: Two dozen representatives of the Sikh Youth Organization sat on a symbolic Dharna in front of the Punjab Secretariat on August 15 to mark this day as a “Black Day” for Sikhs. The protestors were led by Mr. Malwinder Singh “Mali”. Mr. Mali told newsmen that Punjab has been converted into a vast prison house. The Sikhs are being treated as slaves and are being denied all the human rights in this country, Mali alleged. The youth leader gave a call to the Sikhs to boycott the Independence Day celebrations being arranged by the government. Mr. Mali condemned the politics of exploitations being practical by the ruling party.
The youth leader publically demonstrated the anger of Sikh youth against the killing of Sikh youths in fake encounters by the paramilitary and the state police. He offered to substantiate his allegation of state terrorism and the killings by the repressive forces.
Mr. Mali disclosed that one Sikh youth Sardar Baldev Singh of village Kaleke was arrested at the bus stand of village Sandhuwale in the presence of large number of other passengers. But he was later executed in the fake encounter. This allegation, he said, was confirmed by the bitter enemies of the Sikhs Le. “Nawan Zamana”
Article extracted from this publication >> August 21, 1987
