SAN FRANCISCO: Immigration Judge Honorable Phillip P.Leadbetter granted political asylum to Darshan Singh, an Indian citizen coming from Saidwal district Jalandhar. He claimed to be an active member of the All India Sikh Student Federation since 1972.
Darshan Singh, now an employee of Campbell Soup Company in Sacramento came to United States on April 27,1989. He was arrested near Laredo Texas and placed in deportation proceedings. A motion for change of venue was filed and the case was removed to San Francisco INS court.
He presented his claim for asylum before Judge Simpson in September 1990. Beginning with June 3,1984 which was his first en- counter with the Punjab police, he was tortured in November 1984, December 84, June 1985, January 4,86, March 15,1987. He told the court that he was beaten mercilessly which left several scars on his body. After a six hour testimony, the matter was put over for cross examination. Judge Simpson later moved to become a Judge with the Social Security administration in Oakland. Darshan Singh’s case was continued before Judge Leadbetter who saw the scars and after hearing Darshan Singh at length granted him the political asylum,
This case is the 25th successful political asylum for Sikhs claiming political asylum, for attorney Mohinder Singh of Lafaycuc, California.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1992
