CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab and Haryana high court judge Ajit Singh Bains was sent to Chandigarh jail on Wednesday after the police kept him in is custody for four days.

Justice Bains heads a human rights group based at Chandigarh and is an activist Sikh leader who participates in political activities of the various Sikh and Akali groups aimed at opposing repression and state violence.

Justice Bains was arrested at Chandigarh when he finished his morning play of golf at the local club but on paper was shown to have been arrested at Anandpur Saheb. He has been detained under the anti-terrorism law although his name does not figure in the F.I.R. registered by the Anandpur Saheb police The FLR pertains to a meeting of Akali group leaders who issued a resolution in favor of Khalistan on the occasion of the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Saheb last month.

Chief Minister Beant Singh had later publicly stated the government’s intention to arrest all the panic pants in the Hola Mohalla pro-Khalistan conclave. Evidently the legal formalities including a possible clearance of the move by the Prime Minister took time

Infect Beant Singh’s first public statement after becoming chief minister was directed against human rights groups. Most Hindus as well as almost all police officers have criticized human rights groups for their opposition to the Indian state. One senior officer was quoted as telling his friends recently that all human rights activists were “bastards” and that they would be taught a lesson.

Consequently Bains was humiliated for four days His family was not informed of the arrest He was first ken to the sector 11 police station where a constable insulted Justice Bains by asking him to vacate a chair he had occupied “unauthorized” He was later taken to Mohali police station and then to Ropar. The Ropar S.P.Gupta informed the detainee’s family about his arrest and indicated his willingness to permit a meeting with Bains but when former judge’s wife Rachhpal Kaur left for Ropar he police led Bains by handcuffs to his Sector 2 house in Chandigarh. There Justice Bains was not allowed even to sit in a chair while the police “searched” the house Bains son RS .Bains an advocate later alleged the loss of Rs.5000 also some gold moments

Justice Bains arrest and the humiliations heaped on him created a furor in Punjab. Advocates of Punjab and Haryana high court as well as those of district courts went on a strike demanding his immediate unconditional release Rachhpal Kaur moved a habeas Corpus petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court but a Hindu judge G.C. Garg dismissed the petition upon the police producing Justice Bains in the court and. upon registration of a case against him under the anti-terrorism law which bars the grant of bail While most Indian newspapers nearly blacked out the arrest and humiliation story it was Pioneer 8 Delhi daily which not only regretted the news blackout but also condemned in a forthright manner the arrest. The newspaper indicated that the arrest had the sanction of the Indian government. The Paper warned that India’s human rights record would be further discredited by the arrest. Meanwhile crackdown has started on the human rights activists and Akali leaders in Punjab in view of the Vaisakhi congregation to be held by the six Panthic Organizations at Talwandi Sab & Fetehgarh Saheb which was later postponed. Those arrested include CoL Panap Singh of Khalsa Raj Party and Akali Dal Badal General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Dhindsa was arrested from Sangrur. Col Pariap Singh left for India from USA on March 25. He is president of Khalsa Raj Party and the author of recently published book “Khalistan The only solution” which he wrote during his stay in U.S.A. He was arrested on April 3 from his residence at Chandigarh.

Col. Partap Singh was produced in the court on April 4. The judge remanded him in police custody and is required to appear in the court on April 8.

Col. Partap Singhs daughter Roopinder K.Dhillon & son-in law Capt. TS Dhillon who are living in West Hills CA has appealed to President Bush to put the pressure on the Indian Government to release Col Partap Singh.

In a letter they have written that police has stopped his family visitations. Somehow Col. Partap Singh has managed to pass a note to someone in India and it stated “that Lam being tortured.”

The copies of the letter are sent to James Baker secretary of state and Congressman Dan Burton.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992