From News Dispaches

AMRITSAR: An aged widow, Surjit Kaur, and her two daughters. Savinder Kaur (21) and Narinder Kaur (18) were beaten up and tortured by a police party headed by the Station House Officer of the Beas police station at Butala village.

Although more than a week has elapsed since the incident the family is in a state of shock.

When this correspondent went to the village, none of the victims would come forward to narrate the event. After much cajoling by a group of villagers, Savinder Kaur and Narinder Kaur mustered courage to speak.

Mother Beaten Up

The two sisters who still found it difficult to stand, broke down occasionally. The family has no adult male member. The father, Sohan Singh died of cancer three months ago leaving behind four daughters and two sons aged six and nine.

Savinder Kaur who is a high school graduate said on the evening of April 20 a number of

policemen and Central Reserve Police Force personnel jawans surrounded their house. Six policemen entered the house and dragged out the women in the courtyard. While they spared the children ‘and the eldest daughter, Paramjit Kaur who had been bedridden ever since she donated blood to save her father, they beat up the mother Savinder Kaur and Narinder Kaur. The mother was let go only after a sound bashing by their policemen.

Daughters Tortured

“We were partly unconscious when we were made to lie prostrate on the ground. A heavy log was placed on our legs with two policemen pressing heavily on it before we fainted,” recalled Savinder Kaur with tears in her eyes.

Salt Sprinkled In Eyes

“After we regained consciousness, the policemen sprinkled salt in our eyes. All pleadings by our elder sister in bed to have mercy were greeted with filthiest abuses from the cops,” said Narinder Kaur. After two hours of torture, the two sisters were put into a police vehicle and taken to the Beas police station. There they were again questioned by the police which kept accusing them of sheltering some Sikhs, who they claimed were wanted.

As news about their arrest reached the village sarpanch (headman), Gurdeep Singh, accompanied by the panches and local government counselors) village elders, he reached the police station and pleaded for their release, The constables on duty not only refused to listen to them but also accused them of defending the girls who they say, had “illicit” relations with those people.

While Police Celebrate …

The girls released could not be secured as the police officials were away to the Jandiala police station to celebrate the promotion of their colleague. The following day, the village leaders approached the officials concerned who agreed to release the girls on the condition that the family immediately abandoned the farmhouse on the outskirts and shifted to the village.

The Majitha police district chief GS. Mann, when contacted, feigned ignorance about the incident.

Other Women Tortured

In another incident, KuljitKaur_ wife of Khajan Singh of Sattowal village was arrested some time back. She was rounded up on April 19 and tortured at the Mehta police station throughout the night. On intervention by villagers she was let of and has since been staying with her parents.

Police Demand Bribes:

A woman of Dharde village was meted out a similar treatment last week.

Many villagers allege that the youth are time and again arrested and tortured and then let go after payment of bribe. The bribes paid vary from Rs 10,000 and above.

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 19, 1989