SAN FRANCISCO: An increasing number of Sikh political activists are winning asylum in the United States Last month at least seven Sikhs won asylum in San Francisco according to Robert Jobe attorney for the winning Sikh activists.

Many of the winning asylum applicants were members of the All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF). In two recent decisions Immigration Judge Bernard Hombach ruled that high ranking AISSF members are systematically persecuted Last month Judge Hombach granted asylum to two high ranking AISSF members Sohan Singh and Parminder Singh. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) waived its right to appeal the decisions “Judge Hombachs decision recognizes that the AISSF is a persecuted organization” Jobe said. “Under the logic of this decision all high ranking members of the AISSF would be entitled to a grant of asylum.”

Among the five AISSF activists granted asylums last month are:

Bhupinder Singh age 30 and AISSF member from Uttar Pradesh who had been arrested on three separate occasions for his AISSF activities. Following his third arrest in 1985 Mr. Singh was brutally beaten and tortured with electric shocks on his feet and tongue. In July 1991 Bhupinder Singh organized a demonstration in protest of the Indian government’s murder of ten Sikh pilgrims in Pilhibit UP. The UP police crushed the demonstration and began searching for Bhupinder Singh Following a police raid on his home in late July 1991 Bhupinder Singh went into hiding until he could safely flee the country.

Sohan Singh age 34 and A.I.S.S.F member from Jalandhar district. Sohan Singh fled his home in July 1990 after the Indian police are rested and executed his close friend Paramjit Singh a leader the AISSF in Jalandhar. Before his death Paramjit Sigh disclosed that Sohan Singh had been actively working with the AISSF. Shortly after the Punjab Police murdered Paramjit Singh in a “false encounter” they raided Sohan Singhs home. Fearing arrest and torture Mr. Singh went into hiding until he was able to flee India in January 1991

Parminder Singh age 35 a AISSF member from Jalandhar district prior to his arrest Parminder Singh was arrested and tortured for his AISSF activities on three separate occasions.

Inderbir Singh alias “Lalli” age 26 an AISSF member from Jallandhar district who was arrested and tortured for his political activities on five occasions. Following three of his arrests the Indian police lodged false criminal charges against him. Each time Inderbir Singh was acquitted of the charges and released. Following each release however he was re-arrested and brutally tortured He fled India in June 1991.

In addition of the AISSF activists two Sikh youths won asylum last month:

On March 27 1992 the Immigration and Naturalization Service granted asylum to Amarjit Singh age 34 who fled India in March 1991 alter the Indian police had arrested and tortured him on suspicion of providing food and shelter to armed Sikh militants. On March 16 1991 Immigration Judge Hombach granted asylum to Gumek Singh. Gurnek Singh a member of Akali Dal led India on November 3 1991 after the Indian police had arrested and tortured him for putting pro Khalistan posters.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992