JALANDHAR: The arrest and detention of a US based nonresident Indian Balbir Singh Dhillon by the Punjab Police six weeks ago, which has created a brouhaha in US, leaves many questions unanswered. The police, who have dubbed him a militant, claim that Dhillon was arrested on May 20 with one kg of RDX from near here. However, this is refuted by the people back in US where nearly 50 Congressmen have taken up the issue of his release.

Since Dhillon works as a cashier of a radical organization called Sikh Youth of America based at Sacramento in US, his political ideology is not in doubt. But the manner in which he ended up in police net. Casts serious doubts about the police story. Independent investigations even indicate that a land dispute could be one of the reasons for his ending up in police net Dhillon, settled in USA since 1980, was on a visit to his native village Salala near here, along with his father, Dilbagh Singh. Holding an American passport, Dhillon, besides holding a valid visa for India had also obtained a valid visa to visit Pakistan from its Embassy in the U.S.

He arrived in India on April 4 and proceeded to Pakistan with a “jatha” to visit Sikh shrines on April 8. The police maintain that he was arrested at 12:30 pm on May 20 at Naka near Chomon village while travelling in a Maruti carrying RDX, The information about his involvement came from within the village where Dhillon had boasted about his links with the militants in Pakistan, say police officials.

According to the interrogation report, shown to this reporter by police officials, Dhillon met Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwala, at Lahore, who gave him two packets to be delivered to his father-in-law, Pritam Singh, residing in Nangal Salala village and his brother Jasbir Singh Rode, Editor of Punjabi daily ‘Aj Di Awaj.’ The interrogation report goes on to connect Dhillon with Khalistan Commando Force (KCF Panjwar) and the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

Independent investigations, however, revealed that Balbir Singh Dhillon presented himself before the DSP in his office on May 19 around 5 pm after the police had left a message at his residence in the village. He was accompanied by the sitting Congress MLA from Nakodar, Amarjit Singh Samra, who is also the Chairman of the Punjab Marketing Board.

The DSP told him and Samra that there was no urgency and he could come to the office on the next day. As directed Dhillon again went to meet the DSP. He was asked to wait outside as the two officers entered, After about 45 minutes the DSP took him to a police station, where he was put under arrest, Amarjit Samra confirms that Dhillon had presented himself before the DSP in his presence, which belies the police version of his arrest at a Naka. This raises doubts about the recovery of RDX, unless this was recovered subsequently after his questioning. One obvious question that arises is: If he was involved in criminal activities or was conduit for militants, where was need to present himself before the DSP accompanied by an MLA?

Confirming that Dhillon delivered a packed to him, Jasbir Singh Rode, however, says that the packet contained only clothes which were sent by his brother, from Pakistan. He disclosed that Lakhbir Singh Rode was a Canadian citizen holding passport of that country and had undertaken Kar Seva of Gurdwaras in Pakistan.

Sources said that if Dhillon planned to organize militants in India where was the need to visit Pakistan via India, Since he had an American passport, it was easier for him to directly go to Pakistan for meeting underground militants and straightway return to America. During the current visit Dilbagh Singh told his nephews to vacate the plot as he wanted to construct a house. This is being cited as one of the reasons which resulted in their providing misleading information to the police.

His delayed arrest also raises doubts. For example, why he was not arrested on his arrival on April 4 or on his return from Pakistan at the Wagah Border on April 18. Police officials, however, say that his arrest earlier was not possible as police had no prior information about his activities in US.

Whether or not Dhillon is a militant, there is no doubt that police have cooked at least a part of the story. When the accused was presented before. A judge for securing remand, the police reportedly took the plea that he was to be taken to Rajouri for recovers. But in fact he was not taken anywhere.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 10, 1996