AMRITSAR: The human rights wing of the Akali Dal (Amritsar) has alleged that the security forces had bulldozed human rights and human values essential for the maintenance of a civil society during an operation to capture Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, a listed militant in February 1993.
This allegation has been leveled in its report which was released to the Press. The six-page report in Gurmukhi has been prepared by Jaspal Singh Dhillon and Jaswani Singh Khalra, president and secretary, respectively, of the wing. According to the report, Manochahal, a listed militant, was killed in an encounter with the security forces on February 28. 1993. his death did not fall under the ambit of human rights, but the ways employed to eliminate him by the security forces and the “inhuman” treatment mcted out to his family members and relatives did pose a serious threat to the human rights consciousness. On August 2. 1992, Nirvair Singh, a brother of Manochahal was taken in custody by the CIA staff, Tam Taran. After a week he returned to Naushehra Pannuan police post and was unable to walk. On August 10. Atma Singh, father of the militant was taken in custody along with his mother. Gurmej Kaur, sister-in-law. Baljit Kaur and Gurmit Kaur another sister-in-law from Brahmpura village. They were taken to Vairowal police station. Nirvair Singh was killed in a “fake” encounter on September 9, while the body of Atma Singh was thrown in the Beas.
The report said 43 relatives from 15 villages were picked up by the Tam Taran police, which included 16 women and 27 men. The women folk were kept together at Vairowal, Khadoor Sahib and Sarhali police stations. “Brutally tortured” and were forced to perfor “ardas” for Manochahal. All the men were kept at various police stations. No one was officially arrested but were kept in illegal custody for more than nine months. Out of these 43, Kewal Singh Sangatpura an ex-serviceman, died of “excessive torture” Surjit Singh Maimohri was shown as killed in an encounter near Jagraon. Nirmal Singh, Gulzar Singh of Pandora Gola village were also eliminated. Five out of 43 picked up by the police never retumed to their respective homes.
After the elimination of Manochahal, the report says his brother Balwinder Singh, was picked up from Nakodar on March 16 and was killed in an “encounter” during the intervening night of March 29 and 30, 1993 near Kaura Wadhana village under Sarhali police station, Manochahal’s mother Gurmej Kaur was picked up by the DSP, Gurmit Singh himself, and was also killed.
The human rights leaders demanded an enquiry into the elimination of 14 persons to capture one militant.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 20, 1995
