Chandigarh: From Our Special Monitoring Service

The Khalistan flag was hoisted by the workers of all India Sikh Students Federation in the district jail, Jullundur on the morning of August 15, 1985, according to official sources. Some Sikh young men lodged in the jail, climbed the roof of the jail and hoisted the flag. They also shouted Pro Khalistan and ProBhindranwale slogans. The flag was pulled down by the jail authorities soon after with the help of Central Reserve Police and Border Security force. Police made repeated Lathi charge to disperse the under trial Sikh young men in jail. Usual national flag hoisting ceremony could not be held on the jail premises due to the incident.

In Amritsar jail there are about 1700 workers of all India Sikh Students Federation and 300 other followers of late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. They also made an attempt to disrupt the usual national flag hoisting ceremony and raised Pro Khalistan slogans. Anticipating these jail authorities hoisted the flag at a place which was out of the reach of under trials.

Reports of raising Pro Khalistan and ProBhindranwale slogans were also received from two other jails both in the district of Patiala. In these jails especially in Ladha Kothi and District jail Sangrur only hard core Sikhs are kept.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 23, 1985