LUDHIANA: The Punjab Human Rights Organization expressed its concern on the way the Press Council of India (PCI) had acted as the fifth column and whitewashed the excesses including gang-rape committed by the armed forces in Kashmir. The Organization also censured the PCI for justifying the curbs imposed by the Government on the Press in Punjab the police offensive against the non-conforming newspapers and journalists notwithstanding
This was stated by the PHRO Chairman D.S.Gill who released to the Press here a report for the month of June 1991. The unabashed crackdown on the Press he said was the result of the PCI report and it would be stepped up further in view of the HIGH Court’s decision in the daily Ajit case.
‘The PHRO report “The Fourth Estate as the Fifth Column” took notice of the seizure of thousands of copies of the TIMES of India the Jan Satta the Daily Ajit and Aj Di Awaz by the UT and Punjabi administration during June last calling upon the media men to collectively oppose the onslaught on the Press tooth and nail. Editors and newspaper managements were also called upon to pool their efforts against the police offensive unleashed on the freedom of the Press.
According to the report the security forces killed 167 Sikh activists in faked encounters and alleged inter group clashes in Punjab during the month of June alone About a dozen Sikh youth were killed in faked ambushes and dozens of others were eliminated by the police “cats” force and the police backed vigilante groups. Certain women and their children were kept in illegal police custody.
Besides numerous investigations on killing of Sikh youths in encounters ambushes and inter-group rivalry the PHRO40-page Monthly report also contains reports on ‘The trial by media of Prof.Sukhsayal Singh “Police help extortionists in militants’ garb’ are afraid of the police’ ‘Police disrupt last rites ceremonies’ ‘People pay tributes to the dedicated Militants’ despite heavy odds’ etc.
The PHRO appreciated the concern shown by the U.S.C. Congress and the British MPs who had visited Punjab and Kashmir on their “fact finding” mission and had informed their Parliament about the grave human rights situation in these sensitive border States. The U.K. MP Max Madden’s report has also been published in the monthly report. With this report the PHRO has covered the first half of 1991.( WSN will’ serialize The Fourth Estate as Fifth Column starting October 4 issue)
Article extracted from this publication >> September 20, 1991
