LAFAYETTE, CA: On April 30,1992, Immigration Judge San Francisco Court granted political asylum to Sukhinder Singh based upon his claim of torture at the hands of the Punjab police and the Central Reserve Police because of his political opinion and siding with the AISSF for separation from India and for creation of a sovereign homeland called Khalistan.

He is 27-years-old, a Gur Sikh from Kapurthala who arrived in San Francisco on July 3,1991. He was placed in exclusion proceedings and later released on a delivery bond. He filed his request for asylum and withholding of deportation on October 15,1991. He claimed that he was a representative of the AISSF at his school, On May 5,1988 while he was taking part in a “Black Day” observation, at Jalandar he was arrested and remained in custody for6 days. He distributed Khalistan literature. On June 4,1990, at Amritsar Guru Nanank Dev University, Sukhinder Singh took part in a rally sponsored by AISSF. While holding a Khalistan flag and shouting Khalistan Zindabad, he was man handled by Ram Lal a Hindu police officer. He was pulled by his beard, and thrown on the ground. He was unconscious for some time. While in custody, one CRP man touched his arm with a burning cigarette which left a burn mark, He was hung from the ceiling with his hair pulling apart. On April 1,1991, he was stopped while coming from the farm on a tractor. He was searched and his tractor confiscated. He was taken to police station, stripped naked, pulled from his arms, beaten on his inner soles, and his legs stretched. He was threatened to be killed if he does not stop working for the AISSF. He was asked if his problems were because of his enmity with police. He replied, he feels sure his torture was because of his political opinion and being active for Khalistan cause.

The court found him rambling but forthright and truthful as to his claim. The court granted him the asylum, to which the Immigration Service waived their right to appeal, making Judge’s decision as final,

Sukhinder Singh was represented by Lafayette-Santa Clara based attorney Mohinder Singh Ph: (510-283-7382), for whom this case was his 21st successful one,

Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1992