The murder of 18 year old Amarjit Singh, who lived in Mohali, District Ropar in front of numerous witnesses on 4 November 1987, by policemen who were trying to abduct him from a religious procession organized by the Gurdwara in Mohali to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. On the same day the afternoon news bulletin of All India Radio carried an announcement that a terrorist, Amarjit Singh, had been killed while trying to escape from police custody.
On investigation this story has proved to be fictious.
Amarjit made a living driving a three wheeled scooter as a taxi in Chandigarh. On 11 February 1987 he had been arrested for possessing a stolen scooter. He was released on bail on 27 October 1987.
On 4 November 1987, the Gurdwara at Mohali organized a procession of Sikh devotees to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Amarjit Singh was waiting on the road outside the Gurdwara for the procession to Commence along with his brother Harjit Singh and a friend Manmohan Singh. A group of policemen under the Supervision of Assistant Sub
“A constable Mr. Baldev Singh hen shot Amarjit in the back. Harjit Singh states that this was done on the oral instruction of the SHOT Mr. dasdish Singh.”
Inspector (ASI), Mr. Madan Singh was in charge of security. .
The three young men joined the procession after it proceeded from the Gurdwara shortly after 1:30 pm. Before long a police jeep was seen driving into the petrol station located across the road from the Sikh temple. Jagdish Singh the Station House Officer (SHO) of Mohali police station got down from the jeep and walked. over to his subordinate ASI Mr. Madan Singh who was moving along with the procession. After they had conferred ASI Mr. Madan Singh, together with five constables, approached Amarjit Singh and took hold of him by the scruff of the neck. The policemen pulled him towards the petrol station where the SHO Mr. Jagdish Singh was standing.
When Amarjit Singh’s brother and a friend questioned
“The District Commissioner of Ropar Mr, JR Kundal and the Senior Superintendent of police, talked to the group of people who were leading the march and conceded that the shooting of Amarjit Singh was unjustified.
the policemen as to why they were taking Amarjit away, they were pushed backwards causing Harjit Singh to fall. A constable Mr. Baldev Singh then shot Amarjit in the back. Harjit Singh states that this was done on the oral instruction of the SHO, Mr. Jagdish Singh.
Two independent witnesses one a Hindu, Shiv Charan Sharma who had stopped at the Gurdwara on his way home from shopping to participate in the event and the other a man called Rattan Singh Bains who was filling his car with petrol when the incident occurred corroborate the account that “at the time of the occurrence of the incident no weapon was in the hands of the deceased…”
The noise from the gunshot alerted the procession and
“Mr. RJ. Kundal had also assured the crowd that Amarjit Singh’s friend Manmohan would return soon. He never did return and his whereabouts remains unknown.”
many participants rushed towards the body of Amarjit Singh. ASI Mr. Madan Singh and other constables immediately surrounded the body. The crowd was warned that anyone who moved forward would be shot at. In the meantime the SHO Mr. Jagdish Singh brought his jeep close to the place where Amarjit Singh was lying motionless and with the help of his subordinates, had the body put into the jeep. Manmohan Singh who tried to stop the jeep was also taken away.
Following the incident about 400 participants marched towards Mohali police station in protest. On reaching it they found the doors locked from the inside. The crowd became restive and started shouting slogans against the police officials. After some time a Sub divisional Magistrate from Kharar along with various “senior police and civil officers arrived at the police station. The District Commissioner of Ropar Mr. JR Kundal and the Senior Superintendent of police, talked to the group of people who were leading the march and conceded that the shooting of Amarjit Singh was unjustified. They also promised to hold an inquiry into the episode and to initiate proceedings against those responsible for the killing.
Meanwhile the news of Amarjit Singh’s death had spread. Earlier police officials had deceived the crowd) into thinking that the injured body of Amarjit Singh had been taken for treatment to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Studies at Chandigarh. Mr. R.J. Kundal had also assured the crowd that Amarjit Singh’s friend Manmohan would return soon. He never did return and his whereabouts remains unknown.
At 3:40pm a First Information Report (FIR) dated 4 November 1987 was lodged at Mohali police station. The report held the SHO Mr. Jagdish Singh and his colleagues responsible for the shooting of Amarjit Singh and the abduction of Monmohan Singh. The SHO Mr. Jagdish Singh who was being accused of the crimes himself registered the report. Needless to say he took no action against himself!
Two hundred residents of Mohali signed a petition to the Governor of the Punjab against the killing. “We the residents of Mohali, testify that Bhai Amarjit Singh son of Mohinder Gopal Singh was an honest servant of the Gurus and a man of exemplary character. He had no connection with any political party nor was he a terrorist. This innocent man was shot dead by Mohali police when he was taking part in a religious procession. The act was heinous and violative of the norms of civilization. Those who are guilty of this inhuman act must be punished and the bereaved family of Amarjit Singh compensated.”
THE VICTIMS:
* Sikhs Men & Women
THE OPPRESSORS
* Punjab Police
* Central Police
*Criminal Investigation Agency
METHODS OF TORTURE
*Ripping Legs Apart
* Hanging Upside Down
* Rolling Heavy Pins on Legs till muscles rapture
* Chili powder stuffed into anus & petrol poured Over it.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT ACTS
* Illegal detentions by police.
* Extortion of money to release innocent people
* Extra judicial killings of those tortured beyond the limits.
* Threatening remaining family members with dire consequences.
LEGAL RECOURSE
* None under the new laws there is no legal recourse, accused are presumed guilty till they convince the police that they are innocent. Police does not maintain any record of these arrests.
This is India which is called a democracy. When will the world wake up and stop the genocide of the minorities.
We Urge You To Share This Information With Your Friends & Representatives.
These facts are brought to you by
There will be a childrens program on Baisakhi April 16 at the Gurdwara.
Mid Huston Sikh Cultural Society
Fishkill, NY 12590 Phone: 9148968994
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1989
