We are very distressed by the case of Daljit Singh, son of Ajit Singh resident of Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana, and Punjab. Daljit Singh is also known as Bittu. According to information we have received, Bittu had been living peacefully in the village of Suara for several years when he was picked up by the Punjab police. Bittu and ‘another Sikh named Gursharan Singh, known as Gama, who was arrested with him, have been forced to lie on the Noor with their arms and legs tied together with a single rope, They have not been allowed to sleep since they were arrested. They have been beaten and tortured by police officials, improperly fed and forced to confess to crimes that they did not commit.

Prime Minister Vajpayee, these are serious Violations of these two Sikhs’ human is. These practices are illegal and unacceptable. Even your own Supreme Court has said that “no police fife style which relies more on fists than onsite, on torture more than on culture can control crime,”* ‘These are the police practices of a brutal tyranny like Nazi Germany or the Solis Union, not the democracy that India proudly proclaims itself to be. The government tells the world that there is peace and stability in Punjab and that these practices have ended. Yet, the arrests and lecture of Bittu and Gama the abduction of Jaswant Singh Khalra make it clear that this is not true.

‘As you may remember, Mr. Khalra was abducted from his home in Amritsar on September 6, last year after meeting with 1a delegation from the US. Congress to discuss his report which showed that the police had kidnapped over 25,000 young ‘Sikh men, tortured them, murdered them, and then tried to cover their own responsibility for theta heinous acts by declaring the bodies “unidentified” and cremating, them, His whereabouts remain unknown more than seven months after his “disappearance.” We call upon you to release Mr Khalra immediately.

‘The cornerstone of any real democracy is respect for basic human rights such as life and liberty. Prior Indian governments especially in relation to Punjab und Kashmir, have shown a blatant and ongoing disregard for these most basic freedoms Without respect for these rights no one’s freedom und dignity are secure. Is it any wonder that Aryinder Purl of the Times of India exit that India has “a rotten, corruption, repressive and ant people system”? ‘Your party’s victory over the Congress Party represents the beginning of a new era in Indian polities. We hope that this or a will be marked by a greater respect for human rights. In that spirit, we urgently request that you bring Bitta and Gama before a court of law and order the police to respect their rights while they are in custody. Mer. Khalra should also be reed Leased immediately. The United States Dn the world will be watching to see whether these cases are disposed of in a democratic fashion. [Tis time for India to begin living up to its democratic aspirations sincerely.

Members of Congress:

DANA ROHRABACHER, GARY CONDIT, DAN BURTON, CHARLES WILSON, COLLIN C. PETERSON, WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI, DONALD. PAYNE, SAM FARR, RANDY“ DUKE” CUNNINGHAM, LINCOLN DIASBALART, EDOLPHUS TOWNS, WALLY HERGER, VIC FAZIO, JOHN D. DOOLITTLE, WILLIAM JEFFERSON, Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, DC.

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 29, 1996