WASHINGTON,DC: Several members of Congress spoke out for the release of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Their remarks noted the first anniversary of the kidnapping of Khalra by the Indian regime, which occurred on September 6, 1995. Mr, Khalra was kidnapped after he published a report showing that over 25,000 Sikhs have been abducted by the police, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared “unidentified” and cremated to cover-up police responsibility.

As long as Mr. Khalra remains in detention, how can anyone in India feel secure exercising his or her democratic liberties?,’’ asked Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Cal.) Representative Peter King (R-NY) inserted an India West article into the Congressional Record in which a senior CBI official states that innocent Sikhs were killed and confirms the State Department’s report that cash bounties were paid for these killings. “Here in America, reporters often write stories questioning official findings. Can you imagine the outrage if these reporters were picked up by the police and made to disappear?” asked Congressman King. “That is what happened to Mr. Khalraa year ago,” he said, “The United States must be willing to do whatever we can to insure that the people of the world are free from persecution and are afforded their basic human rights.”

Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY) reported the statements of an eyewitness who shared a cell with Mr. Khalra in October. “Mr. Khalrahad been beaten into unconsciousness at that time,”

Congressman Towns stated. He noted that Ajit Singh Sandhu, the former Tarn Taran police chief who orchestrated the Khalra kidnapping, still has not been arrested despite an indictment against him. “Instead, he gave an interview to an Indian newspaper in which he said that he is proud of his actions. Why is Mr. Sandhu still at large?,” he asked, “If India is serious about the democratic values it so loudly proclaims, it would be appropriate to observe the anniversary of Mr. Khalra’s kidnapping by releasing him, ending the mass cremation policy, and arresting and trying those responsible for these atrocities.” Congressman Towns called for an economic embargo” so that American companies cannot prop up this repressive tyranny with their dollars.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 18, 1996