PANJWAR(AMRITSAR): Several top Akali leaders and hundreds of villagers were lathi charged and manhandled by the police here, in their attempt to thwart the proposed gathering at Bhurakona village near Karan close to the Indo-Pak border. ‘These leaders, including the jathedar of the Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, and the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandak Committee, ‘Gurcharan Singh Tohra, were on their way to the village to attend the bhog ceremony, organized to connection with the 11th death anniversary of Bhai Amrik Singh, who was killed during the Operation Blue Star, in 1984. At this village, about 25 km from ‘Amritsarand40km from Bhura Kona, police had gathered and had blocked the main road with police trucks. No vehicular movement was possible.
“Tohra arrived at the village at about 11 am, accompanied by Harminder Singh Gill. He was not allowed to proceed further by the local police officials. He was unsuccessful in persuiading the policemen to let him go so he tried to push his way through. He was accompanied by a number of villagers and Akali Dal activists who were shouting slogans. Policemen then reached here and in a free for all, initiated a lathi charge, even as Tohra, Gill and others continued to edge their way forward. When additional reinforcements, including the Denote Superintendent of Police, arrived they formed a human wall to ‘prevent them from going any further. AL this point, the arrival of Prof Manjit Singh and several other leaders, attracted the attention of the police as they tried to prevent the latter’s vehicle from going further.
Though the jathedar was not manhandled as Tohra was, however, he was asked not to go further, as the crowd began to swell, more reinforcements arrived and Prof Manjit Singh made a brief speech in which he expressed unhappiness at the way the Government was handling the situation.
He said that instead of healing the wounds of the Sikhs the Government was aggravating the matter further. The Akali Takht Chief said that the panth was being reminded that it was not a part of the mainstream and added that when the lawmakers tuned law breakers, it was a sad day for the country.
He said that 1984 was still fresh in the minds of the Sikhs and the Government was sparing no effort to sprinkle salt on their wounds. He added that the Government would be entirely responsible for the repercussions of the incident on “this historic day.” While urging those present to exerestraint, the jathedar appealed to the gathering not to do anything that would be detrimental to the interests of the panth and act in a sensible manner.
Tohra, in his address, strongly criticized the Beant Singh Government and said that it was unfortunate that the Congress could not tolerate the Opposition. He alleged that the Beant Singh Government, was shaken by the defeat at Gidderbaha and was acting frustration, He said that in spite of the “best efforts of the CEC,” The Congress did not win,” and added that it would not be forgiven for not permitting the Sikh Sanghat to pay homage to its martyrs.
Earlier in the day, the bhog ceremony was held at Bhurakona amidst tight security and was attended by about 100 persons. All the entry points to the village were sealed.
The tents that had been erected by the organizers had been pulled down overnight and the slab that had to be unveiled by the SGPC Chief to lay the foundation stone of Bhai Amrik Singh Memorial School had been uprooted ‘and taken away by the police. Bhai Manjit Singh, who attended the hog ceremony along with his family members and villagers, said it was unfortunate that the gathering was banned by the Government. Calling the incident, “murder of democracy,” Bhai Manjit Singh said that a befitting reply would be given to the Government.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 16, 1995
