CHANDIGARAH: The Punjab Hu man Rights Organization has co me out strongly against continuing state repression in Punjab. A en counter killing this week of S. Gumam Singh of Palu Majra village in Ludhiana has dashed the hopes of Sikhs in the newly elected government in Delhi, a PHRO statement said. A change of government in Delhi is no solution to the burning Punjab issue it added.
A PHRO spokesman contacted by WSN in Ludhiana said Gurnam Singh who had been in police custody for several days was now
“Killed in an encounter.” When asked about the effect of the change in the government and the militants making impressive electoral gains, he claimed the situation was the same as before.
The government must with draw all para military forces repeal all black laws bring to trial all those involved in the large scale killings of Sikhs in Delhi and elsewhere, end extrajudicial killings as a first step, he said. The election in Punjab was clearly a referendum against state terrorism as was reflected in the fact that all those elected were in one way or another victimized by the government. He also said the PHRO has sounded a note of caution to those elected not to fall into the trap of minor political inducements like Barnala did. The people were looking up to them now with great hope.
The PHRO spokesman also demanded the release of all Sikh soldiers in Indian jails held on mutiny charges. The death sentence against Harjinder Singh and Sukhdev Singh must be commuted and the extradition case against Ranjit Singh and Sukhminder Singh is dropped, he added.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 8, 1989
