AMRITSAR, Punjab – An aged widow, Surjit Kaur and her two daughters, Savinder Kaur(21) and Narinder Kaur (18) – were beaten up and tortured by a police party headed by the SHO of the Beas police station at Butala village.
Although more than a week has elapsed since the incident, the family is in a state of shock.
When this correspondent went to the village none of the victims would come forward to narrate the event. After much cajoling by a group of villagers, Savinder Kaur and Narinder Kaur mustered courage to speak.
The two sisters, who still found it difficult to stand , broke down occasionally. The family adult male member. The father, Sohan Singh died of cancer three months ago leaving behind four daughters and two sons aged six and nine.
Savinder Kaur, who is a matriculate, said on the evening of April 20, a number of policemen and CRPF jawans surrounded their house. Six policemen entered the house and dragged out the women in the courtyard. While they spared the boys and the eldest daughter, Paramjit Kaur, who has been bed ridden ever since she donated blood to save her father. They bear up the mother and Savindor Kaur and Navinder Kaur charging them with harbouring terrorists. The mother was spared after a sound bashing, “We wore partly unconscious when we were made to lie prostrate on the ground, A heavy log was placed on our legs with two policemen pressing heavily on it before we fainted”, recalled Savinder Kaur with tears in her eyes,
“After we regained consciousness the policemen sprinkled salt in our eyes. All pleadings by our elder sister in bed to have mercy were greeted with filthiest abuses from the cops”, said Narinder Kaur,
After two hours of torture, the two sisters were put into a police vehicle and taken to the Beas police station, There they were again questioned by the police which kept accusing them of sheltering terrorists Balwinder Singh Shapuri, Harbhajan Singh, Satnam Singh and Khajan Singh.
As news about their arrest reached the village sarpanch, Mr. Gurdeep Singh, accompanied by the sarpanchs (council members) and village elders, he reached the police station and pleaded for their release. The constables on duty not only refused to listen to them but also, accused them of defending the girls who they said, had “illicit” relationship with terrorists.
The girls release could not be secured as the police officials were away to the Jandiala police station to celebrate the promotion of their colleague. The following day, the village leaders approached the officials concerned who agreed to release the girls on the condition that the family immediately abandoned the farmhouse on the outskirts and shifted to the village.
The Majitha police district chief, Mr. G. S. Mann, when contacted, feigned ignorance about the incident.
In another incident , Kuljit Kaur wife of Khajan Singh of Sattowal village, was arrested some time back. She was rounded up on April 19 and tortured at the Mehta police station throughout the night. On intervention by villagers, she was let off and has since been staying with her parents.
A women of Dharde village was meted out a similar treatment last week on the suspicion of harbouring terrorists.
Many villagers allege that the youth are time and again arrested and tortured and then let go after payment of bribe.
– The Tribune May 1, 1989