CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Human Rights Organization has announced that a large number of panchyats (village governments) in Punjab propose to resign enmass to protest against the continuing repressions and killing of Sikh youth in fake encounters in Punjab.

According to Justice A.S. Bains the organization had already received the resignations of panches (council members) and sarpanches (mayors) of 33 panchayats from Ludhiana district and of 50 panchayats of Hoshiarpur district.

A large number of panchyat members from Batala and Gurdaspur district had also handed over their resignations to the organization for their further transmission to the Punjab government. Justice Bains said the police were killing innocent people for promotions and just to seek rewards. He demanded that the Punjab Governor should release a list of all militants wanted by the police as well as those said to have been killed in fake encounters.

At least 10 young Sikhs, were being killed daily in fake encounters and a similar number of young Sikhs were being arrested from villages daily, Justice Bains said.

He added that in December 1988 the Punjab Governor S.S. Ray had said there were 60 hard core “terrorists” and 250 sympathizers and others who were to be arrested in the state. But since then 400 alleged terrorists have been killed and more than 2,000 Sikhs have been arrested.

Justice Bains further alleged that young girls were taken to the police stations where they were molested and murdered, The villagers had to bribe the police to get innocent people released. Arresting innocent people to extort money had become a way of life for police in Punjab,

Ray, Riberio and Gill were responsible for the killing of innocent Sikh youth,” Justice Bains said adding that the PHRO had planned Black Flag marches in Ludhiana but the participants were arrested before the march could be taken out.

The PHRO demanded the withdrawal of all black laws including the 59th Amendment unconditional release of all political prisoners, an end to the policy of fake encounters and humiliation of women in the rural areas by the police.

It also demanded prosecution of all the police officials involved in fake encounters.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 25, 1989