Paramjit Singh, a student of BA appeared in examination at Mohali in May 1987, as a regular student. During vacation soon after the examination he went to Amritsar ‘on a thanksgiving mission to Darbar Sahib, He was arrested by the Amritsar police on 25.6.1987 from the Golden Temple complex. For more than 15 days the boy was tortured. As a result he made certain confessional statements. After one month of his torture, there was an opportunity for the boy’s helpers to have him medically examined. As many as 14 injuries were found on this person, according to medical examination report.

After one year i.e. in July 1988, the Delhi police dropped the case and the Designated Court of Mr. S.C. Jain discharged him. The court order held that there was no evidence against the Youngman. Here is what the court had to say:

“The accused Paramjit Singh was arrested by the Punjab Police in case FIR No. 72/87 under sections 302/307 IPC, 25/27 of Arms Act and 3/4 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act by police of Police station D Division, Amritsar (Punjab). While in police custody, he allegedly made a disclosure statement in which he is alleged to have confessed his involvement in the present case FIR no 165 dated 1641987 under sections 302/307/364/34 IPC, 3/4 of the TADA (P) Act, 25/27 of the Arms Act and 4/5 of the Explosive Substance Act of Police station Greater Kailash, South district for the alleged killing of 14 persons and injuring 20 in indiscriminate firing with sten guns and revolver and fled away.”

“On the basis of the disclosure statement this accused Paramjit Singh was arrested by the Delhi Police in case FIR No. 165 dated 1461987 and he is in judicial custody till date Today a request has been made by the Delhi police for the discharge of this accused Paramjit Singh in this case on the plea that during interrogation and investigation of this case, no evidence has come against him showing his involvement in this case FIR No. 165 dated 1461987. On the basis of these facts, it’s requested by Mr. K Khanna, the Designated Public Prosecutor (PP) that this accused be discharged. According to Designated PP there is absolutely no evidence against the accused, he is arrested. On the basis of his own disclosure statement recorded by the Punjab Police. Efforts have been made but the prosecution could not collect any evidence against this accused in this case and therefore he is to be discharged.”

“I have gone through the case file of this case and the investigation made by the police. As there is no evidence against Paramjit Singh showing his involvement in this case FIR No. 165 dated 14-6-1987, so I have no other alternative but to discharge him. In accordance with the request of the prosecution, I discharge this accused Paramjit Singh in this case.”

“Bail application has also been moved on behalf of this accused by Mr N‘S. Butalia, advocate but in view of the fact that he is discharged in the main case, bail application has become infructuous and accordingly disposed of. I order accordingly.”

Even after acquittal in the case, Paramjit Singh was kept in Tihar, Selhi, and jail on the basis of following cases:

  1. FIR No. 72/87 dt. 15.6.87 u/s 302/307 IPC, 25/54/59 Arms Act and 3/4 TADA Act Police Station DDiy, Amritsar.
  2. FIR No. 44/87 dt., 22.1.87 u/s 302/396 IPC, 25 Arms Act and 3/4 TADA Act! Police Station Ajnala, District Amritsar. 4
  3. FIR No. 252/87 dt. 22.187 u/s 25 Arms Act Police Station Anjala, District Amritsar.

During his police captivity, the Youngman had to undergo indescribable experiences. His father, Gurcharan Singh, has in an affidavit filed in the High Court gave descriptive details of the police atrocities on the Youngman. The father’s version is an eye opener about how India’s police operates in Punjab. The father’s affidavit is based on the version given out by the son in his own hand, a photocopy of which was supplied to the P.H.R.O. Here is what the unfortunate father has to say:

“That the petitioner is not exhaustively dealing with each and every aspect of the matter but suffice it to say that on 25th June, 1987at 3:30 a.m. when the detenu Paramjit Singh was getting ready to return to Mohali and had gone to take a dip in the holy Sarovar of Shri Harimandir Sahib, a person in plain clothes placed a revolver at the temple of the detenu and asked him to raise his hands and said that a raid is taking place in the Harimandir Sahib complex and therefore, he is merely being arrested as a precaution. The detenu stated that he was a student. He produced his identity card but was assured that he would be released after a formal enquiry. There upon the detenu got dressed. He accompanied the person detaining him outside the Gurdwara complex where he was surrounded by a large number of Punjab police and C.R.P.F. headquarters at Mal Mandi, Amritsar along with other persons arrested from the Harimandir Sahib. There they were interrogated. The detenu all along was under the impression that after inquiring about his bonafides he would be released. However, at the instance of a police informer Paramjit Singh was not released and the police informer continued to identify the detenu as Balwant of Ajnala. It was then that the detenu came to know that the person who took him in custody was no one other than S.S. Virk, Deputy Inspector General of Police, himself.

“That around 6:30a.m.on 25th June 1987, the detenu was blindfolded and made to sit apart from others and thereafter taken to a room where Senior Superintendent of Police, Izhar Alam, Rajinder Singh Superintendent Police (Detective) and Deputy Inspector General of Police S.S. Virk were present along with the police informer. The police informer continued to emphasis that the detenu was Balwant of Ajnala D.1.G., Virk thereafter asked the detenu about his whereabouts to which the detenu in all honesty replied that he was a student of B.A. (Part II), lives in Mohali and is not Balwant of Ajnala but nobody believed the detenu. At 5:30 p.m. the detenu was taken out of the room and brought into the torture chamber where in the presence of Superintendent of Police, Rajinder Singh, his legs were stretched wide to’ the extent that blood started oozing from the tender membrane of the legs. The detenu experienced excruciating pain and began crying out Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru. (O God, O God)

At this the S.P. began beating the detenu on the head with his wooden ruler and caused injuries on his head and ears. A doctor was called in who bandaged the ear and head where after a wooden log was placed at the thighs of the detenu and rolled up and down virtually twisting the legs and destroying the muscles. After this torture, the police officers left with the direction that the detenu was not be allowed to sleep at night and should be made to walk. These directions were enforced and the detenu inspite of pain was made to walk continuously till 5:30 a.m. next day. On 26th June, 1987 at about 9:30 a.m. the police team again pounced on the detenu. When the detenu refused to implicate himself, he was forced to lie down on his stomach and given a severe beating called Chhitar Parade (shoe beating). It continued till blood started oozing out from the thighs, Thereafter the detenu was hung by his feet to ceiling and given a severe beating all over his body. He was also beaten on the soles of his feet till blood started oozing and two nails of the feet feel off. The detenu was taken out in the evening and was assured that he would not be left alive. Joginder Singh Khaira, an Inspector, asked the detenu as to how many cases he should be implicated in and handed over a list of 50 cases. He informed the detenu that there was a reward of Rs. 60,000 on his head. The detenu was sought to be implicated in over 25 cases including three bank dacoities. At that time Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mittal came and inquired whether in fact the detenu had committed all these crimes. On his departure the D.S.P. directed that 15 cases be dropped and 12 be retained. Immediately after the departure of D.S.P., Mittal, Inspector Khaira again started beating the detenu on his ankles.

“That at about 11:30 p.m. the detenu was brought out of the room and taken to a distant place where a number of police officers and cameramen were present. There DIG., Virk came along with a police officer Brar of Delhi. Asked whether he had studied in Khalsa School so that he could implicate in the Greater Kailash, New Delhi, killings. The detenu was interrogated the whole night and various third degree methods were used on him. This continued till 3:30 a.m. when the detenu was allowed to rest.

“That on 27th June, 1987 at about 9:30 a.m. the detenu was brought before the same officers who had on the previous night interrogated him and had made all attempts to make him admit to having committed murders at Greater Kailash, New Delhi. Since the detenu did not oblige, he was again hung by his wrists and beating started. Thereafter two gunny bags filled with bricks were tied to the ankles and the detenu was kept hanging in that position for about 20 minutes. At 5:30 p.m., on the same day the detenu was informed that he should make confession because his finger prints had matched with those found at the place of occurrence in Delhi. But on the detenus refusal, the process of torture again started and he was again hung by his wrists.

“On 28th June, 1987, the detenu was given a bath by two C.RP.F. Jawans as the detenu was incapable of taking his bath himself. He was made to eat breakfast by D.I.G., Virk and given a fresh underwear as the earlier one was smeared with blood. The detenu was then introduced to the Director General of Police, K.P.S. Gill but no beating took place.

“That on 29th June,1987 the detenu was shifted to a room equipped with fan along with Gurpreet who begged the detenu to agree to the allegations. Otherwise even he (Gurpreet) would be tortured. Gurpreet helped the detenu to take his food because the detenu was incapable of exercising control over his limbs. At 11:30 p.m. the detenu was taken out blindfolded for further interrogation and the detenus found himself in Division, Police Station, Amritsar, where he was kept in custody for two days and on Ist July 1988, was produced before the Court of Mr H.R. Megh, Executive Magistrate, who remanded the detenu to police custody till 7th July 1987. Upon Director General’s intervention the remand was extended to 17th, From the Ist to the 16th the detenu was kept in the police station where teams from crime branch Delhi interrogated him and on every evening from 6:30 to p.m. the detenu would be taken to C.R.P.F. headquarters, Mal Mandi, Amritsar where he would be hung from his wrists and given electric shocks on various parts of his body. On 16th July, 1987, the detenu was taken to Civil Hospital where Dr. Aulakh, Chief Surgeon and physician began treating him for his wounds.

“On 17th July 1987, the detenu was produced before a magistrate and the remand was extended up to 24th July, 1987, the remand was taken by the Ajnala police, a place the detenu described as hell.”

Paramjit Singh, now 22, continues to rot in Amritsar jail. Courts do not bail him out while the police does not let him off. There is no progress of any case against him even as he has been acquitted in the main case in which he was originally arrested.

(Issued by PHRO, Ludhiana)

Article extracted from this publication >> August 31, 1990