A report by : ‘Committee For Information And Initiative On Punjab’, A group of prominent non-Sikh civil right activists has published a report on the details of various cases of extrajudicial murders in staged encounters by the police, of illegal detention and magistratal enquiries into deaths by fake encounters following is a case of an illegal detention and disappearance.

 

Twenty two year old Manjit Singh had a small garage business in district Ropar. His father Sohan Singh presided as a priest in a gurdwara close to Chandigarh. Jatinder Pal Singh, a friend of Manjit who had a diploma in electronics was out of work at the time.

On 15th of January 1988, Jatinder Pal Singh called on Manjit and stayed at the house overnight. The next morning they were woken up by loud knocks on the front door. A dozen men in civilian clothes, who did not identify themselves, forced their way into the house, and after conducting a search of the premises, whisked the two boys away in unmarked cars without any warrant for their arrest. With their hands tied behind their backs with their turbans they were physically lifted into the waiting cars. The abduction was witnessed by several neighbors who did not dare to interfere.

 

“Police inspector denied any knowledge of the incident and refused to take a formal complaint concerning the abduction.”

 

Both Manjit Singh’s father, Sohan Singh, and Jatinder Singh’s mother, Mrs. Mohinder Kaur, were informed. Later that evening they went to Mohali police station along with some sympahisers. Here they met Police Inspector, Mr. Jagjit Singh who denied any knowledge of the incident and refused to take a formal complaint concerning the abduction. On the following evening at 7 pm Sohan Singh then sent telegrams (serial nos. 203206 from the post office at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Mohali to the Governor, the Director General of police, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ropar and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohali informing them of the incident and requiring them to ensure his son’s safety under the law.

A separate incident led to the identity of the mysterious abductors being established. On 17 January 1988 a plain clothes team of policemen raided the Mohali house of Kamaljit Singh Tohra, a handicapped boy with crippled legs, and took him into custody. They also tried to arrest one Sohan Singh, but as he was not at home, took his brother Ashoki in his place. The police told the family that Ashoki would be released if Sohan Singh surrendered himself to the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) of the Patiala Police.

 

 

“They met Manjit Singh’s and Jatinder _Singh’s parents and informed them that their son’s were in the custody of Patiala police at Mayi Ki Sarai Interrogation Centre and were being brutally tortured. Their condition was reported to be very grave.

 

On January 18, 1988, Sohan Singh and Mrs. Mohinder Kaur, respectively father and mother of the first two abductees, went to Patiala to meet officials of the CIA, Police Inspector Mr. Sujit Singh Grewal assured them that their sons would be produced before a court within a day or two. This never happened despite repeated visits by the parents.

On 31 January Kamaljit Singh and Ashoki were released. They met Manjit Singh’s and Jatinder Singh’s parents and informed them that their son’s were in the custody of Patiala police at Mayi Ki Sarai I interrogation Centre and were being brutally tortured. Their condition was reported to be very grave.

 

 “The office of the Prime Minister in a letter numbered 176307 and dated 18th February acknowledged her letter and informed her that it would be forwarded to the Chief Secretary of the Government of the Punjab for appropriate action.”

 

On 12th February Mrs. Mohinder Kaur dispatched letters to the Prime Minister of India, the Governor of Punjab, and the Director General of the Punjab police, begging them to intervene to ensure the release of the young men or their presentation before a court. The office of the Prime Minister in a letter numbered 176307 and dated 18th February acknowledged her letter and informed her that it would be forwarded to the Chief Secretary of the Government of the Punjab for appropriate action. The office of the Governor of the Punjab also acknowledged her communication and assured her that the complaint was being looked into her by the Inspector General of Police.

During the last week of February 1988, Mrs. Mohinder Kaur and Sohan Singh were at last able to get an audience with the Chief Secretary of the Government of Punjab who promised that he would acquire into the episode and advised them to meet the Director General of PaO Bolies; Mr. Julio Rebeiro.

 

“The Director General, Mr. Rebeiro, declined to meet them, but his personal assistant, Mr. Kapil advised them to see the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mr. Umrao Singh Kang in the intelligence department.”

 

The Director General, Mr. Rebeiro, declined to meet them, but his personal assistant, Mr. Kapil advised them to see the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mr. Umrao Singh Kang in the intelligence department. SSP Mr. Kang informed them on 25 Apmil that neither Manjit Singh nor Jatinder Pal Singh were in the custody of Patiala police.

 

“Neither Manjit Singh nor Jatinder Singh Pal Singh have reappeared.”

 

A vernacular daily newspaper called Ajit, published an article in its issue of 10 April 1988 about the disappearance of the two boys. The article suggested that they may have been killed by the police in the month of February.

Neither Manjit Singh nor Jatinder Singh Pal Singh have reappeared.

 

THE VICTIMS:

* Sikhs Men & Women

THE OPPRESSORS

* Punjab Police

* Central Police

Criminal Investigation Agency

METHODS OF TORTURE

*Ripping Legs Apart

* Hanging Upside Down

* Rolling Heavy Pins on Legs till muscles rapture

* Chili powder stuffed into anus & petrol poured Over it.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ACTS

* Illegal detentions by police.

* Extortion of money to release innocent people

* Extra judicial killings of those tortured beyond the limits.

* Threatening remaining family members with dire consequences.

LEGAL RECOURSE

* None under the new laws there is no legal recourse, accused are presumed guilty till they convince the police that they are innocent. Police does not maintain any record of these arrests.

This is India which is called a democracy. When will the world wake up and stop the genocide of the minorities.

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Article extracted from this publication >>  May 12, 1989