San Francisco. Calif; On March 30,1993, Harvinder Singh of Pandora Ganga Singh won his freedom in the form of being granted political asylum by a San Francisco Immigration Judge. Harvinder Singh came to United States through San Juan, Puerto Rico and was arrested by the Immigration Service and brought to Hato Ray, P.R. A motion for change of venue brought his case from Hato Ray to San Francisco. He submitted his claim for asylum based upon persecution by the Punjab police, He offered as a proof of having been tortured while in Punjab police custody, several scars on his back, legs and hands. The Court observed him well, listened to his claim that he was tortured in June 1990 while taking part in an All India Sikh Student called rally where he was singled out and beaten, In August 1990 he had another encounter with the police followed by a September 1990 arrest from home, when he was asked to work as an informer for the Punjab police. He says he declined that offer and ordered to denounce Khalistan or disappear from Punjab, otherwise he would be killed. He took the threat seriously and escaped from India to seek shelter in the United States.
Immigration Service attorney waived his right to appeal, thereby males the Court’s judgment final.
Harvinder Singh was represented by Lafayette based attorney Mohinder Singh, who won the first reported political asylum for a Sikh in the United States, Harvinder Singh’s case was his 29th victory.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 9, 1993
