CHANDIGARH: The abduction of renowned Sikh preacher Prof, Darshan Singh Ragi by the Haryana police from Punjab territory has sent a wave of anger and resentment in Sikh circles of the state. He was arrested near Zirakpur in Patiala district. Zirakpur is at the Border of Union Territory, Chandigarh. He was travelling in his car and Was on his way to perform Kirtan (recitation of religious hymns) when Haryana police arrested him without informing the Punjab police, According to Haryana police circles, a case was registered against Prof. Darshan Singh last year for conspiracy to murder Mr. Bhajan Lal, His arrest was, however, shown to have been made from near Ambala,
‘The sessions court at Ambala remanded him for 15 days in police custody for interrogation. After three days he was shifted to a hospital on health grounds as his blood pressure had gone considerably high,
Punjab police has registered a ‘case of abduction and illegal detention against the Haryana Police Party under sections 365 and 342 LP.C. for arresting Prof. Darshan Singh from Punjab territory with out any information to it,
AISSF workers staged demonstrations against the arrest at Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and some other places, After the expiry of 48 hours’ notice given by AISSF Convener, Harinder Singh Kahlon, the Federation workers punctured at various places Haryana Roadways Buses, Consequently Haryana government has decided to suspend all its bus services that pass through Punjab territory. The Federation has warned that if Prof. Darsharn Singh was not released, then, it would resort to direct action, United Akai Dal leader Major General Narinder Singh has charged that the arrest has been made with the active connivance of the Barnala government. He said that Punjab government agreed to the arrest because it wants to stop him from mobilizing support for the Sarbat Khalsa meeting scheduled for January 26. He also charged that Haryana Police removed Prof, Darshan Singh’s turban and kirpan and he was not allowed to keep kirpan in the jail.
There has been strong Protest from the S.G.P.C. President Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra against the arrest of Prof. Darshan Singh. Mr. Tohra went to Ambala Jail to meet Prof. Darshan Singh. Meanwhile the A.I.S.S.F has threatened to launch agitation and Gherao of Haryana Buses in Punjab if Prof. Darshan Singh was not released by January 10th,
‘Mr. Nasib S, Gill a Congress (I) leader in a statement said that arrest of Prof, Darshan Singh was a serious threat to the constitutional right of a citizen. He demanded that Union Government should intervene,
Article extracted from this publication >> January 10, 1986
