LIVE OAK, CA: The long arm of the Indian paramilitary has reached into the bosom of a Sikh immigrant family long respected for their activities on behalf of the Sikh freedom struggle. Tejinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a USA resident and son-in-law of  S. Harbans Singh Pamma of Live Oak has reported a tale of vile treatment against his family. Tejinder’s father, S. Balwant Singh Bhullar was the local Audit Dept. Sectional Officer in Faridkot village, Dialpura Bhaika, district Bathinda. He was taken into illegal custody Dec. 11, 1991 for questioning about his son, Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar. Devinder was said to have been involved in attacks on police officer, Sumed Saini. Devinder’s father-in-law, was also taken, He was tortured and later released on Feb. 24, after impassioned pleas from his family. The family was promised the release of Balwant Singh Bhullar also but to this date he has not been seen, The family believes that he has been tortured to death as they cannot get any answers regarding his whereabouts or condition from the authorities, who at this time had not even registered a FIR. His wife has gone into hiding in fear of her safety.

In another case, Jasvir Singh, who is a Sikh students federation member seeking political asylum in United States, has family being tortured by the Punjab police since he managed to escape.

Jasvir Singh has been an active Sikh Student Federation member since 1989, Former president of the Morinda unit of the federation, he was taken into police custody several times that year, tortured in the Patiala Jail , charged with a false case and held in custody for seven months. After his release, he was immediately rearrested, tortured by DSP Grewal, charged again with a false case and put into the Nabha jail. Five months later he was released, yet police continued to raid his home and such harassment forced him to go underground,

He was arrested upon his arrival in the U.S. and placed in the San Pedro jail in L.A. The US immigration judge has denied him bail bond. Meanwhile, his brothers, three of whom, along with other family members remain in the Punjab, are suffering police torture and are illegally detained in the C.I.A. police station in Ropar in an attempt to make him return.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 7, 1992