From News Dispatches AMRITSAR: Mrs, Gurmit Kaur, a victim of police brutality is still in a state of shock as she lies in a room next to that of the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Darsharn Singh at Bhai Gurdas Hall.

She was released from Gurdaspur jail after a harrowing experience of torture at the hands of the Senior Superintendent of Police (Batala) Gobind Ram since transferred.

Gurmit Kaur was picked up from the premises of a private finance company here on the evening of August 21 along with her colleague, Gurdev Kaur who, however, was released the following day.

‘The frail mother of three teenaged children, Mrs. Gurmit Kaur can hardly sit up or take a turn. She needs a helping hand even to. sip water. Her body aches at the slightest pressure. Occasionally she becomes hysterical and begins to tremble.

Bracing herself at the bidding of Darsharn Singh, she narrates her nightmarish experience at the infamous police interrogation centre at Beeco Mills on the G.T. Road in Batala. Her voice is barely audible just a decibel above a whisper.

Propped up by pillows and supported by an elder brother, Daljit Singh and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Jagwant Kaur, both of whom sit tense and very still, Mrs. Gurmit Kaur says she was tortured and beaten up by Mr. Gobind Ram himself. He hurled abuses and invectives at her, all the while threatening to eliminate her. He wanted Mrs. Gurmit Kaur to disclose the whereabouts of her husband, Mehal Singh or at least name someone else. “How could I implicate just anyone? I do not know where my husband is. He has been missing for the past five years.”

This, however failed to convince Gobind Ram who ordered her hands to be tied behind her back. She was beaten with a leather strap and a wooden stick. Later four to six men were made to stand on a wooden plank placed. across her thighs,

“T cannot move my left leg. I do not know whether there is a fracture or some ligaments have been torn.

Gobind Ram, she sobbed, placed his foot on her chest and tortured her. He would sit down after a while, feeling exhausted after beating her up, and would order others to continue. Occasionally Mrs. Gurmit Kaur would faint. Even when she was unable to move, she was made to walk, rather hop on one leg, with male policemen holding her on either side.

Throughout her ordeal, Mrs. Gurmit Kaur did not come across any policewoman. She was shuttled between the Beeco Mill interrogation centre and Sadar police station. One night she was kept awake and interrogated. She also spent two nights at another city police station.

Mrs. Gurmit Kaur has a 17 year old daughter, Sukhbir Kaur and two sons Gurpreet Singh (16) and Rajinder Singh (14). She lives in Krishan Nagar. Her and Mrs. Gurdev Kaur’s houses are under constant police surveillance.

While narrating her experience she begins crying and expressed the fear that she might be picked sup by the police again. She says that before being let off at Gurdaspur she was summoned by a few police officials and warned not to speak about what she had undergone.

It is learnt that the VAD on a directive from Darsham Singh, will launch legal proceedings to secure financial compensation for the torture undergone by the two women.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 22, 1989