CHANDIGARH: A swath of fear Still cuts across the villagers of Biromajri, where 16 of the hamlct’s33 families have left their homes for safer places.
The villagers bore the brunt of police fury six weeks ago, when they apprehended six Punjab Police commandos who had, on the night of December 24, reportedly Taped three women and wanted to their lust again on January 6.
The police had, it was reported, mercilessly beaten up the villagers, molested the women and even plundered their belongings.
Their last hope, a reassurance of their safety from Chief Minister Beant Singh, was dashed to smithereens when representatives of 2S panchayats from neighbored villages met him on February 13.
The Chief Minister said that the Biromajri incident was “concocted, there is no truth in it.”
Punjab police chief K.P.S.Gill saida few days ago that the “matter has been settled.”
Instead of registering a case against the culprits who were identified by one of the victims, Sunita Devi, in front of SP (Operations), Fatehgarh Sahib, J, S.Sandhu, the police registered cases against eight persons of the village that were on guard duty that night and had apprehended the culprits. The villager’s fee! That the policemen will strike anytime to take revenge, because they overpowered the culprits. Fear of reprisal has made them abandon the thikri para (guard duty).
When this correspondent visited the village, Kanti Parshad and his family were leaving, the houses, some with and others without locks, the deserted streets and silence spoke volumes for the terror that was reportedly let loose by none other than custodians of the law.
Unlike in other cases, the Government, it appeared, had no explanation for the brutality because firstly, all the victims of the police were Hindus and had nothing to do with militancy, and secondly there was no militant related incident here.
One of the panch members said the villagers had hoped there would be some justice before meeting the Chief Minister. “But Beant Singh did not give as any assurance whatsoever about our safety, nor have the false cases registered against us been dropped. On the other hand, the culprits who raped three of our women and looted our valuables roam scot-free and the innocents are hiding out of fear of these men who may strike again.”
Many of them who fled after the incident have not returned till recently. Those who came back salvaged whatever valuables they could and have left again. Some who had a ray of hope and had stayed back are leaving.
Among the families which have returned, it is only the old who have dared. There is no youth or child in the village.
At night the entire village sleeps at one place, “At night no one even dares to get up for easing themselves,” says an old man. “The only person who had helped us was the BJP MLA of the area, Harbans Lal. He has been pleading with the Government to drop the fake cases registered against the villagers,” said Jagdish Lal, who was thinking of leaving the village.
The victims of the eight policemen on the night of December 24 include the wife of Harbans Lal, and the wife and sister of Subhash Chander.
Those who have left with their families include the widow of Bawa Nath, Urmila Rani, Gurjit Kaur, Subhash Chander, Harbans Lal, Pashori Lal, Nanand Lal, Raj Kumar, Suresh Kumar, Gamma Chaudhry, Chander Bhan, Nand Lal, and Shashi Kumarand Jivan Dass.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 26, 1993
