By D.S. Gill, IHRO Ludhiana, Punjab (India)

LUDHIANA: The Sikh Coordination Committee (SCC) comprising representatives of political parties, non-parties and individuals at a meeting here demanded release of all Sikhs detained in India.

The committee was set up by the International Human Rights Organization (IHRO) at a seminar held here last month. The meeting convened by IHRO on Saturday gave a final shape to the committee

According to D.S. Gill, Chainnan, IHRO, the 25 member committee regarded continued detention of thousands of Sikhs for years on political grounds as a mockery of democratic India.

In particular, the committee said that the detention of Bhai Ranjit Singh, jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sim ranjit Singh Mann, Dr. Sohan Singh, Bhai Kanwar Singh and his wife Mrs. Kulbir Kaur, and Gurdip Singh, editor Aj Di Awaz, deserved to be revoked without any delay.

The committee appointed Simranjit Singh Mann. now in detention, as its chairman while Bhai Kalyan Singh, a Member of the Takht Sri Patna Sahib, was made convener.

Sukhdev Singh, a joumalist, was chosen National Coordinator and Barrister Harjit Singh of UK was made International Coordinator Three secretaries appointed included Prof Jagmohan Singh Tony, Jaspal Singh Dhillon and Jaswant Singh Khals

The committee in its resolutions called upon the Indian government to shift detainees to places close to their homes as measure of interim relief in keeping with international standards and norms of human rights.

Those under trial for long duration or who have spent their jail terms and are in illegal custody should be set free immediately

The government was also called upon to come out with detailed information on the number and names of persons including offences. if any against them, in detention in various states of the country

A six member legal defence committee with Major General Narinder Singh as convener and Kuldip Singh Wadala as convener was formed to render legal assistance to the Sikh detainees and members of their families framed in false cases

The Sikh committee has also called upon world governments not to extradite or depon Sikhs to India as they may be subjected to torture or eliminated by the Indian security forces in view of their involvement in various organizations in Punjab.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 27, 1995