International Human Rights and various Sikh organizations have condemned in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Tarsem Singh Purewal, editor of the Punjabi newspaper published in Great Britain Des Pardes. Purewal was assassinated Jan, 24, as he was closing his office
“Mr. Purewal’s contributions to the struggle for a free Khalisan are well recognized.” Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, of the Council of Khalistan, said. “He had in-depth knowledge of the infiltration of Indian intelligence agents into the Khalisian movement. In his Inst issue, he had reported yet another case of a Sikh Icader who had contacts with RAW [India’s Research & Analysis Wing). It should be apparent that Indian intelligence had Purewal murdered in order to revive terrorism at the international level and blame it on the Sikhs. They are continuing the pattern of state terrorism which led them to blow up their own Air India airliner in 1985, as shown in the book Soft Target, and more recently to pay $1.5 billion to the late Governor of Punjab, Surendra Nath, to organize and support covert slate terrorist activities in Punjab and Kashmir,” he added.
Others expressed fear that Indian terrorism might be spreading to the United States. “India’s current Ambassador to the United States, S.S. Ray, is widely known as the Butcher of Punjab. He is responsible for the killings of thousands of Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan. When he was Chief Minister of Bengal, he killed thousands of Bengalis and burned their villages. Now India has embarked upon a terrorist wave which has soon the arrest of S.S. Mann and the killing of Purewal, among other events. Will America be the next place the Indian terrorist regime strikes?”
Many offered statements condemning this brutal murder in the strongest possible terms and extending deep sympathies to the Purewal family and to the Sikh nation. The Purewal family has said that Des Pardes will continue to reflect the vision of Mr. Purewal and it is hoped that the paper will continue to be a strong voice promoting freedom for Khalistan. This brutal act of terrorism by the tyrannical Indian regime will only strengthen the Sikh nation’s resolve to liberate Khalistan from repressive Indian occupation. Only by freeing Khalistan can the Sikh nation keep incidents like this from being repeated. This is a great loss to the Sikh nation. We will be deprived of Mr. Purewal’s insight and his knowledge of Indian intelligence. A united Sikh nation working. for freedom is India’s greatest fear.”
Khalistan government in exile, based in England, has urged a thorough investigation to identify the molives for this dastardly act and apprehend its perpetrators. It was learnt that Mr. Purewal was shot as he was pulling down the shutters of the of races of Des Pardes and succumbed to his wounds before he could be linked to the hospital
Prime Minister Gurmej Singh Gill of Khalisian Government – in- exile, deplored the Killing of a senior journalist and expressed the hope that authorities concerned will Leave no stone unlined to uncover the motives underlying it. “The incident has all the hall-marks of a deep-rooted conspiracy aimed at Garnishing the image of the British Sikhs,” he said, and I have a strong feeling that the recent surreptitious visit of Punjab Police chief to Germany has something to do with it.”
As reported by plenipotentiary in Germany of Khalistan Government in-exile, in his memorandum published for the Jan 26th demonstration of Sikhs in that country. K.P.S. Gill, the Punjab police Chief recently visited Germany and off-coded a group of Police commandos.
The memorandum had warned the Sikhs in Europe. Canada and America that the visit of K.P.S. Gill and the influx of police commandos were the harbingers of some deep rooted conspiracy
Coming on the heels of the police chief’s visit, Prime Minister Gill said the killing of Mr. Purewal could well be a part of the conspiracy hinted at in the memorandum. It is therefore, necessary to look at the incident from this point of view as well.
Mr.Gill, Prime Minister, urged the Sikhs in the Western world to remain vigilant – for it was quite likely that some other unfortunate incidents may be staged by the Punjab police commandos. He felt that the sympathizers with the Khalistan struggle, as well as other prominent Sikhs, could also be on the hit list of these commandos. He urged the Sikhs not to play into the hands of the enemy by succumbing to the provocations and instead to bring the attention of the authorities any suspicious developments that may come to their notice.
Deputy Prime Minister Bhagwant Singh Uppal of Khalistan Government in Exile deplored the killing of Mr. Purewal as an attack on the freedom of the press.
World Sikh News editors commented that if this heinous crime was engineered to stifle freedom of the press or the Sikh Freedom Movement it would not be considered a success, but rather a further call in the case of sovereignty for Punjab. The murder of Mr. Purewal created yet another martyr-a mortal blow to an individual but not to a just and legitimate cause.
President Sewa Singh Lalli of the Government in exile expressed deep sympathy with the family of Mr. Purewal, and expressed the hope that they will bear the loss with fortitude. Others expressed shock to hear of the untimely death of the beloved S. Tarsem Singh Purewal.
The W.S.O. and the Sikh Community wish to convey the deepest condolences to the family of late S. Tarsem Singh Purewal.
May Waheguru grant peace to the departed soul,” said a memo signed by: Didar Singh Bains, W.S.O. and Sardar L.S. Aujla, Guru Nanak Library.
The Staff & Management of World Sikh News also offer their deepest regrets to the family and friends of this eminent journalist.
Council of Khalistan, and Khalistan Government In Exile contributed to this report.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 3, 1995
