Pilibhit Sikh Prison Murder. Condemned Surendra Nath’s Covert Terrorism Exposed TADA charges Against Lakhowal Denounce
WASHINGTON, DC: December 12, 1994 senior, influential Members of the U.S. Congress have led ‘a blistering attack on Indian oppression of the Sikhs, lending their unequivocal support to the struggle for a free Khalistan. Recent atrocities against Sikhs and other revelations have stirred the ire of the U.S. Congress which has long castigated India for its brutal and illegal occupation of Khalistan. Both Congressman Dan Burton and Congressman Phil Crane condemned the recent murder of six Sikhs by Indian prison guards in a jail in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. “Four of the six Sikhs killed,” said Congressman Burton, “were witnesses to the coldblooded murder of 12 Sikhs last year who were shot in the head at point blank range by Indian police after being pulled off a bus in Pilibhit.” All six Sikhs killed were scheduled for release within a few days of their murder on November 9. Congressman Crane exposed the murders as’ “premeditated.” It is evident,” explained the Congressman, “that the Indian government wanted to silence them.” Thirty other Sikhs were tortured in the Pilibhit prison massacre.
Each Congressman also submitted for the record the wire service reports describing the situation at the Pilibhit prison. Initial reports suggested that the six Sikhs were killed while trying to escape. Later reports revealed that prison officials had tried to cover up the truth, Examination of the corpses revealed crushed genitals and other signs of torture indicating that the murders were fully premeditated, The discrepancy between early and later reports, Congressman Burton said, “show how the Indian government manipulates and befools even the international press.” Calling India’s persistent brutality against the Sikhs an “intolerable state of affairs,” Congressman Burton urged the U.S. Congress to take the following action: “First, cut aid to India until its Stops its brutal reign of murder, torture, and rape against the Si people. Second, pass a resolution supporting the Sikh nation’s right to a free and fair plebiscite on self-determination. Third, demand that India stop killing Sikhs and allow international human rights organizations within its borders to conduct human rights investigations unencumbered by governmental interference.” Phil Crane also called for a cut in aid to India saying that “it is time the United ‘States takes action to support the independence of the Sikh nation.”
Congressman Gerald Solomon attacked India on another front, exposing the fact that India paid
Tate Punjab Governor Surendra ‘Nath $1.5 billion to foment covert terrorism in Khalistan in order to discredit the movement for Sikh freedom. Citing reports in the Hitavada, an Indian newspaper, the Congressman announced that “Mr. Nath . . . was paid by the {Indian] regime to organize and ‘Support covert terrorist activities through organizations infiltrated by his operatives.”
‘According to the Hitavada, an English language daily in India, Mr. Nath turned the hitherto innocuous C.1.S.F (Central Industrial Security Force) into a death ‘squad terrorist machine “used to kill innocent persons including the family members of the Punjab police personnel as well as teachers, doctors, engineers, media men and political personalities.” Congressman Solomon cited Surendra Nath’: ‘S longstanding relationship With Bakhshish Singh. Mr. Singh Served as chief of security for mer Punjab Finance Minister AL want Singh at the time when the later was murdered by gunmen in broad daylight. Suggesting that Nath and Bakhsh is worked in tan, the Congressman charged that “it seems probable that Mr. Nath’s operatives murdered Balwant Singh, rather than the so Called “Sikh terrorists’ who were officially blamed for it.”
“In an unequivocal denounce; India, the Congressman declared “This new information demonstrates yet again that democracy in India is a sham. The genocidal repression of [the Sikhs in Khalistan and other nations seeking their freedom is the true face of lain democracy. This kind of reason and brutality should not be supported by decent nations like ours with either aid or trade.” (Congressman Solomon also denounced the TADA charges recently brought against Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan (Farmer’s) Union. Lakhowal was charged under TADA for a speech he delivered last April in England in which he advocated independence for Khalistan through peaceful means. Despite the fact that the speech: was delivered 7 months prior to the charges being levied. And despite the fact that so-called “world’s largest democracy” supposedly grants freedom speech, Mr. Lakhowal was charged with “assertion prejudicial to national integration.” Congressman Solomon, condemned this action and suggested that “as long as India demonstrates this kind of disrespect for basic human liberate does not deserve a penny of aid from the U.S, or other free nations of the world.”
Dr. Gummit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan applauded the strong words condemning India’s denial of freedom and human rights for the Sikhs, “The world’s 21 million Sikhs greatly appreciate the action of the U.S. Congress. India’s savagery has simply pushed the freedom loving nations of the world 100 far. Today the U.S. Congress has exposed India as one of the most repressive countries in the world. I warn India to stop murdering Sikhs at will. Everyday its Status in the world community comes more into question. Unless it wants to end up as an international pariah, I suggest that it withdraw its forces from occupied Khalistan, sit down with Sikh leadership and draw up the boundaries between India and Khalistan. All the oppression in the world cannot prevent the establishment of a free and sovereign Khalistan. The time has come for India to face the truth.”
Article extracted from this publication >> December 9, 1994
