CHANDIGARH: The Babbar Akali Dal has given a call to the minorities Dalits and all those fighting for their rights in the country to unite against the repressive state.
Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday the party spokesman R.P.Singh also called upon various Sikh organizations to sink their differences and unite. He also appealed to the Amnesty International the International Red Cross and other human rights organizations to raise their voice against repression launched by the Indian state.
The immediate provocation was the alleged police firing and lathicharge on thousands of men and women at Jandiala in Amritsar district who had been protesting peacefully seeking the release of two persons on Aug.2 evening. The Babbar Akali Dal team which had investigated the incident released the enquiry report
According to the report Bhai Manohar Singh Lt. General of the Khalistan Liberation Force consumed cyanide when cornered by the security forces near Malowal village under Jandiala police station. A little while later two Sikh youths Baljinder Singh and Jagtar Singh (Punjab Police constable) who were coming that way were taken into custody. When the news of their arrest spread people from a number of adjoining villages started converging to Jandiala police station to get them released. About 5000 men and women had gathered by 8:00 p.m. and they started a peaceful dharna in front of the police station. A deputation consisting of Sarpanches and panches approached the police officials to know the whereabouts of the two arrested persons. The police denied of having taken them into custody.
According to the enquiry report more security forces arrived in the meantime who opened fire in the air without any provocation. It was followed by a bat on charge. The party alleged that more than 100 men and women were injured. A video recording of the injured persons was shown to newsmen those injured included men and women above 60 years of age. The party gave the names of the persons alleged to be still missing.
The members of the deputation were booked under TADA and taken into custody
Col Jasmir Singh another member of the Babbar Akali Dal standing committee was for peaceful protests but even this right was being denied to the people He said the govt wanted the people to exhaust all peaceful means. The party said it was a police raj in Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 16, 1991
