CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Human Rights Organisation and the Movement against State Repression have expressed their concern over the reported move of a section of the police department to destroy records pertaining to killing of militants in “alleged fake encounters”.
In a joint statement issued by Justice Ajit Singh Bains Lieut-Col Pratap Singh Mr Inderjit Singh Jaijee Ms Baljit Kaur Gill Dr Sukhjit Gill and Major Gen Narrinder Singh it is alleged that records pertaining to the interrogation of certain suspects who were subsequently killed in encounters and on the basis of which some officers got promotions were being destroyed. They said even the proposed immunity provided by amending Section 197 of the Cr PC did not give enough confidence to those police officials who assumed extra constitutional powers in liquidating the youth in “fake encounters.”
They asked why even after specific orders of the Governor several police vehicles were playing without number plates Further they said the police and paramilitary forces continued to commit sacrilege by breaking into places of worship every now and then and beat up people who work there.
They also expressed their concern over the killing of several youngsters without a proper trial. They wondered whether the powers of judiciary and executive had also been vested in the police and paramilitary forces.
The signatories also wanted to know the Army’s role in the border areas. They alleged that the Army was carrying out internal security duty under an “undeclared material law.”
They also wanted to know the outcome of a dozen of enquiries ordered into alleged fake encounters by the state.
The Movement against State Repression also condemned the arrest of the convener of the Shiromani Babbar Akali Dal and harassment of one of members of its ad hoc committee. The convener of the Dal during detention was treated shabbily.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 7, 1991
