Dear Sir:
Sikh organizations and individual Sikhs all over the world have drawn the attention of the ‘world community t0 the Sikhs: ‘men women and children in India who are being massacred by the police and paramilitary forces. ‘They all are victims of State terrorism police oppression deliberate un provocative killings extrajudicial executions and fake encounters.
On February 41992my nephew Jasvir Singh Jassi a young man (D.O.B Nov 21 1968) also became a victim of extrajudicial ‘execution and fake encounter between him and the joint force of Punjab police Central Reserved Police and Para-Military units
He was kidnapped by the police in the early hours of February 3 1992 while he was on his way to the Gurdwara four native villages Rhode District Faridkot. His young wife of less than a year with daughter nine days old was devastated to hear he tragic news When the villagers protested against this blatant violation of human rights they were either beaten or manhandled by the members of the police CRP and Para-military units.
Jasvir Singh Jassi was taken to Baghapurana police station for ‘questioning. My brother Kanar Singh Mr. Sadhu Singh and Mr. Jaguar Headman (Sarpanch) of Raje Anna village visited my nephew at the police station on the same evening. My brother Kanar Singh was not allowed to see his son. Mr Jagtar Singh and Mr. Sadhu Singh both talked to my nephew. He expressed his fears of being eliminated through a faked ‘encounter. They made the police authorities aware of his (my nephew’s) fears. They were assured of his safety and of no harm to him they were also assured that there was nothing to worry and he would be released next day ‘morning at the most.
To the horror of everybody concerned on February 6 1992 the family read in the newspapers that Jasvir Singh Jasi was killed on February 41992inanencounterwiththepolicea village Takhat Wad a distance of 12 kilometers from the police station of Baghapurana where he was being held When the family asked the police for confirmation or denial ‘of the news appearing in the news Papers they confirmed his death ‘and blamed him frit They were also informed that the body had already been disposed of and no religious gathering should beheld {to maintain peace in the village ‘The family was refused the Post ‘Mortum report which could shed some light on the circumstances Inder which Jasvir Singh Jassi field.
‘What crime did Jasvir Singh Jassi ‘commit? His crime was that he was Amrit dhari Baptized) Sikh youth. He was the grandson of Jathedar Mohan Singh freedom fighter for the liberation of Indi from the British Raj and the protection of human rights of the Sikhs Hindus and Muslims alike He was a member of a family who had always been on the front of the preservation protection and promotion of Sikh religion and the Sikh heritage. He was a driving force in widening village lanes for the benefit of the residents of the village. He was the lead in member of the community in a ranging sports event for the village youth. He was committed t the peace and in the relation harmony in the village. He supported the peaceful struggle of the Sikh for independence and protector of their religious economic and social rights Like millions and millions of young men and women in this world who are the HOPE of their respective nations like wishes was the HOPE of a Sikh Nation ‘The HOPE which the present government of India does not want to materialize
‘Your Excellency his worst crime was that he was a peace loving young man Police had tried many times to implicate him with no luck. He knew very well that hi peaceful struggle did not fit into the police agenda of eliminating Sikh youths on false pretexts. He ‘even started living on the farm to avoid police harassment. That did not help him or the family. He was picked up many times but always released for lack of evidence. Bu every time he was picked up he had a full share of police brutal He was tortured beaten and abused. Every time he was kid napped by the police he expressed his fears of disappearance through faked encounter. This time his luck ran out.
Your Excellency like my nephew thousands of Sikh men and women young and old have disappeared from the face of this ‘earth in the dark and in broad day light under the pretext of terrorist activity fake encounters and every illegal act carried on by the India military and paramilitary forces. Human rights organizations like Amnesty international ‘Asia Watch and Punjab Rights Organization have substantiated these charges against the Punjab police central Reserved Police and Para-Military forces everything has fallen flat on the deaf ears of the Government of India.
Therefore we Sikhs reach out for justice to you and the world and earnestly request you to stop this Massacre of the innocent Sikhs old and young alike like many families this is not the end for my family members. Their life is al ‘ways in danger and there is nothing we can do unless the member countries of the United Nations take up the matter with the Government of India. I urge Your Excellency to help us to lead a fearless life under democratic but draconian rule. Yours sincerely Avtar Singh Brar Canada
Article extracted from this publication >> May 8, 1996
