AMRITSAR, Punjab, India: In a surprising and sudden move to obstruct the holding of “Sarbat Khalsa” the police arrested the three Head Priests, Jathedar Singh Sahib Savinder Singh, the Head Priest of Takht Siri Kesh Garh Sahib, Anandpur, Jathedar Singh Sahib, Jaswant Singh, the Head Priest of Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Singh Sahib Bhai Kashmir Singh, Head Granthi of Akal Takht, Amritsar. The arrests were made from the official residence of Head Granthi of Akal Takht. The Head Priests have been arrested under section 107151 IPC and were taken 10 city kotwali, before shifting to the district jail Amritsar under heavy police escort. These arrests appear to be an apparent move to stall the holding ‘of Sarbat Khalsa called by them on. October 22 at Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar.

Later the newsmen were told at the residence of Bhai Kashmir Singh that a large police force headed by Rajinder Singh SP. (Detective) and Baldev Singh S.P. city, Amritsar, surrounded the residence before both officers went to the Head Priests and told them to accompany them to the city kotwali, They also told the Head Priests that the orders have been received from the top authorities.

Giving further details of the incent, he added that it occurred ‘when Bhai Gurdev Singh, the first ex-Head Priest of Akal Takht Sahib, appointed by the freedom fighters was transferred to this jail from Madhya Pradesh and the inmates were refused the permission to meet him.

‘The firing continued for half an hour. The newsmen were not allowed to meet the injured and other inmates. The jail authorities also refused to divulge any details about the incident.

In another development, Mr. RS. Sharma, a Judicial Magisterate of Sangrur directed Station House Officer of police station Kotwali, Sangrur, to register a case of murder against jail authorities and investigate it, This order was passed by the Magisterate on the application of lawyer, Mr. Rajbir Singh Barnala.

An iron curtain has been brought to this incident of firing. A press party from Chandigarh was not allowed an entry into the jail to enquire into the case. Even a request for a meeting with the jail superintendent was turned down.

According to police sources, two seriously injured freedom fighters, Ranbir Singh Gill and Basant Singh had been shifted to the hospital of Government Medical College, Patiala and the rest of injured inmates are being treated at the local hospital,

Mr. Sukhdev Singh, Vice-president of Punjab Human Rights Organization, have strongly condemned the unjustified firing on the unarmed inmates of the jail, He ‘aid that it was the second incident of firing in the jails which reflect the Government of India’s repression in and outside the jails.

Mr. Sukhdev Singh, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, brought tc his notice the conditions in the Punjab jails.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 23, 1987