London:—About 500 victims of State repression and the Punjab Human Rights Organization (PHRO) activists including its Chairman Justice A.S. Bains, former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, were arrested by the police at its headquarters at Ludhiana while they were observing August 15, the Indian Independence Day as Black Day. They were demonstrating in protest against the unabated state repression let loose on Sikhs, especially women, children and the old in their Black Flag March at 9:30 a.m. at Ludhiana. When the people and the PHRO activists arrived there from different districts and subdivisions of Punjab with black flags in their hands, they were picked up from in front of the Mini Secretariat by the Ludhiana police and security forces, which were deployed there in large numbers. As soon as Mr. Bains reached the spot from Chandigarh, he too, along with other activists from Chandigarh were arrested. They, along with the other activists like Mohinder Singh Jawanda, Vice President; Gurbhajan Singh Gill, Secretary Coordination; and Harchand Singh, Advocate were then sent to Mullanpur police station, 18 km away from Ludhiana.

Similarly, the victims of State repression including women from Gurdaspur and Amristar districts of Punjab were sent to Sarbha Nagar police station. More than 500 men and women were arrested at Ludhiana alone, Hundreds of other people coming from Moga, Faridkot and Bhatinda were blocked at Mullanpur by the Police. Those coming Patiala and Ropar were intercepted and were not allowed to enter Ludhiana city; while a large number of PHRO workers of the Jalandhar and Kapurthala units were taken into police custody by the police Inspector Kanwarjit Singh of Sadar police station ,Ludhiana; near Kalgidhar Gurdwara.

It was for the first time that Hindus, though in small numbers participated in the protest march which was disrupted by the security forces. The protest marchers were also carrying placaeds some of which read “Stop Fake Encounter”, Dows “with President’s Rule”, “Restore Rule of Law” and “End Atrocities on Women” Mr. Bains, all the PHRO activists and the other men and women arrested were set free at 2:30 p.m.

The PHRO Governing Council and its district units in a meeting later decided to give a “Punjab Bandh” (Blockade) call for August 30 to protest against the police repression and arrest of its activists who were peacefully demonstrating against the grave human rights violations in the State. Meanwhile, 34 village councils belonging to MuilanpurDakha area of Ludhiana district has resigned in protest against the atro Cities of the State on hapless Sikh women who have been mistreated, dishonored, paraded naked, and mass raped in police stations. They also deplored the killing of militant Sikh youth at the hands of the police and paramilitary forces in fake encounters.

In response to the call given by the U.K. Branch of the PHR.O; numerous Sikh organizations based here have observed August 15 today as a “Black Day” in their own ways. Similar reports have been received from various Sikh temples in the U.K.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 18, 1989