CHANDIGARH: Jagdev Singh Khudian, a newly elected Sikh MP belonging to the Akali party’s Mann faction, who had been missing under mysterious circumstances since early Thursday, had been murdered. The body of Mr. Khudian was found according to one report in the Rajasthan canal and according to another in the fields near where his clothes were found.

Earlier the sources told PTI the day long search for Khudian by Para military forces and the special police party from Chandigarh headed by deputy inspector general of police, S.S, Nahar, had proved futile.

Police was alerted when Khudian’s shawl and turban were sported near the Rajasthan feeder canal in Faridkot district early Thursday.

Khudian was elected from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency.

Akali Dal (Mann) spokesman Gurtej Singh said he had also been told that Khudian had been missing since Thursday morning. “We do not have any other information” Gurtej Singh said,

Jagdev Singh Khudian had defeated his nearest Congress (I) party rival, Harcharan Singh Brar, former Governor of the neighboring Haryana State with a huge margin of 1,57,383 votes.

“He could have been murdered by Govt agents,” was the general feeling among the Sikhs here. Mr. Khudian was a known Khalistan sympathizer who was willing to resign to let Harjinder Singh Jinda fight the election in his place.

There are some who believe that Khudian could have been eliminated at the behest of Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Mr. Devi Lal, the Dy PM.

Militant outfits have all expressed shock. They have announced a reward for information in this case.

In Delhi, the Lower House of Indian Parliament on Friday witnessed uproar during zero hour over the reported abduction of Mr. Jagdev Singh Khudian.

Soon after speaker Rabi Ray announced during the brief period before the House commences for the day that the house had a heavy agenda and since this was the last day, he would suggest laying of papers by ministers followed by introduction of bills, many Congress I members were on their feet saying they had an important issue to raise.

In the midst of the din, the speaker asked the ministers to lay their papers on the table of the house which they did,

As the agitated members kept on shouting the speaker asked Janardan Poojary to have his say.

Poojary said the situation in the country was serious and that the lives of even elected people’s representatives were not safe. He drew the chair’s attention to the abduction of the Akali Dal (Mann) MP and said he had given notice of an adjournment motion. He was supported by many of his party members.

The agitated members were pacified after Sayeed told the House that the federal government would make a statement in the House.

According to one version some persons came to the house of Khudian on Thursday morning and he left with them. When he did not return a few hours later, his family members informed the police. But this version could not be confirmed immediately.

The first report about the disappearance of Khudian was lodged by his family at Lambi police station in the evening after which a state wide alert was sounded.

‘The Rajasthan feeder canal authorities bad been contacted for stopping the flow of the water in the canal to find out whether Khudian has been drowned.

Gurtej Singh spokesman of the Akali Dal (Mann) said that his party suspected the hand of those who had been trying to prove that the situation in Punjab was not normal for holding assembly elections behind Khudian’s murder.

“These very elements have acquired vested interesting perpetuating oppression in Punjab,” he said.

“I appeal to Prime Minister Singh, and State Governor Nirmal K. Mukarji to immediately dismiss the oppressive machinery set up in Punjab by the last government, failing which it may complicate the Punjab problem beyond solution,” he said.

Gurtej Singh said that Khudian was an honest man who served Punjab selflessly for many years.

“There is no reason for the militants to harm him in any manner whatsoever. The militants rather helped him in the last elections,” he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 5, 1990