LUDHIANA: Simranjit Singh Mann, president, Akali Dal (Mann), said here Feb.11 that the government was using brute force and pursuing “oppressive” policies in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a news conference, Mann said the government was systematically killing Sikhs. “A large number of people had been killed and several had disappeared.”

Mann declared: The Akali Dal is determined to take the issue to people who are being forced to accept the hegemony of the Congress by security forces. We are steadfast in our struggle and will continue to expose the barbaric misdeeds of the police and the state.”

The Akali Dal (Mann) chief alleged that the police had killed Kulwant Singh Saini, a lawyer of Ropar, his wife and son.

Mann alleged that Kulwant Singh received a telephone call from the Ropar DSP, to come and takeaway Manjit Kaur whom the police had detained illegally. Kulwant Singh, his wife and son reached the police station to take away the woman but they did not return.

The police had informed those who had gone to the police station including senior officers, to know about the whereabouts of Kulwant Singh that there was nothing against him, Even the Chief Minister had told a deputation of the Bar Association that there was nothing against Kulwant Singh.

Mann said that on February 7, the SSP, Ropar, said that Kulwant Singh had been killed and the facts would be disclosed the next day.

Mann said the police version that Kulwant Singhand his family was killed by militants was fabricated.

Mann further alleged that Jagwinder Singh, a lawyer from Kapurthala district, had also been missing for the past five months. Besides, Bhai Gurdev Singh Kaunke, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht, was killed by the police. Harjinder Singh, a seva dar of Baba Thakar Singh, was also removed from the Damdami Taksal bus and killed by the police.

Mann announced that Akali Dal district presidents, leaders of human rights organizations and Sikh Organizations would meet at Ludhiana to take stock of the situation.

Mann sought a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the high court into the killing of Kulwant Singh and his family members.

Mann claimed that the newly elected panches and sarpanches had pledged to fight “oppressive” policies of the state government and the claims of the government of winning the panchayat poll were wrong. It was a positive sign that the panches and sarpanches had “revolted” against the government.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 26, 1993