CHANDIGARH: One hundred four village headmen of Malerkotla subdivision have threatened to resign enblock on October 6 if the government by then did not withdraw cases under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act registered against the Sarpanch and panches of Amargarh village.

This was stated at Malerkotla by a Spokesman of the action committee formed by the village representatives after the registration of the cases against the panchayat. The meeting was chaired by Zora Singh sarpanch of Ranwan.

It may be recalled that the Amargarh panchayat refused to allot any land for liquor vend in the village. The police retaliated by registering a case against the entire panchayat. The meeting of village leaders also condemned the illegal detention of Soh village Psarpanch Hardey Singh. Earlier according to the meeting the Rurki village sarpanch Achhra Singh was detained and kept in several police stations for many days.

Meanwhile more reports of human rights violations in Punjab are available. Takhar village Gurdwara granthi Bhai Avtar Singh in a representation to the Punjab government stated that his son Charanjit Singh was picked up by the police on August 11 in the presence of Aihne sarpanch Hoshiar Singh, panch Hardyal Singh and panch Meju and others. He alleged that the police had not produced his son in any court not his whereabouts were being disclosed.

In a Statement issued at Beas the Khalistan Commando Force headed by Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar alleged that the police had picked up Bhai Jagir Singh Bhawra (a relation of Bhai Jarnail Singh Buh) from Ferozepore the father brother and other relations of Bhai Balwinder Singh Fatudhinga and the brother of Bhai Tarsem Singh Sidhwan and demanded the immediate release of those persons.

Punjab human rights group associated with Justice Ajit Singh in a statement at Chandigarh alleged that Avtar Singh an independent candidate for the Punjab Assembly from Lohra Gaga constituency had been tortured to death by the police and was not killed in an encounter as claimed by the police. The group in a report and photographs released here stated that Avtar Singh’s body showed no bullet marks On the other hand there were clear torture marks on the body. The group demanded registration of a criminal case against the guilty police officers.

A manager of a local hotel who had “dared” to ask for payment for dinner from a functionary of the Chandigarh police was publicly beaten up and humiliated. The hotel manager who had invoke the wrath of the police has since then resigned and left the city while the hotel owner has preferred to remain silent on the issue fearing reprisals from the local police.

The incident occurred on the night of September 7 when a couple walked out from the hotel after dinner. The manager thinking that the couple had forgotten to pay ran after them. The manager however allegedly turned nasty claiming that he was the SSP’s wireless operator. When the manager insisted on payment the policeman who identified himself as Kamal allegedly pointed to his service revolver and threatened to kill him.

The repeated argument lead to fisticuffs and the policeman left in a huff without paying the bill only to return later accompanied by several weapon wielding policemen. The manager sensing trouble hid himself in one of the rooms occupied by a guest. After searching the hotel the police left unable to find the manager.

The next day the police allegedly picked up the manager from his house. On teaching about the arrest the hotel proprietor Col (retd.) H.S Sandhu who is also president of the Punjab Hotels and Restaurants Association approached a police officer known personally to him. The officer promised a ‘razinama’’ (compromise). That evening the wireless operator accompanied by his wife and several policemen arrived at the hotel with the manager.

The manager was first made to tender on ‘apology’ by rubbing his nose on the ground in front of the policeman’ s wife followed by a public beating allegedly by the wireless operator himself. That evening the hotel manager Satish Watts tendered his resignation and left for Delhi the next morning by bus.

The hotel proprietor said he was afraid of going to the police as he feared reprisals.

The Patiala police has denied the report appearing in a section of the Press that Avtar Singh Shatrana a candidate for the Lehragaga assembly constituency was kept in illegal custody and tortured to death as alleged by the PHRO.

Ina signed statement the SP (Operations) B.S.Gill said here that Avtar Singh was a brother of Bhai Jarnail Singh Shatrana a hardcore militant of the KCF (Rajasthani). He was arrested on Aug.61991 under Section 21, 27216 vide FIR no 100 dated Aug.6 registered at Patran police station. During interrogation Avtar Singh had confessed to have concealed a few weapons in Gurdialpura Bir. Accordingly he was taken there to recover the weapons While the digging was on four militants “came from the opposite side and opened fire”.

The police party also “fired in self defence” as a result of which Avtar Singh was killed and two constables Sukhdev Singh and Sukhwinder Singh were seriously wounded. These militants subsequently “escaped” towards Joura Majra village. The police party chased the fleeing militants who entered the house of a villager and left one scooter and a rifle there before escaping.

The police officer said the post mortem of Avtar Singhwas conducted in Civil Hospital. In the report the cause of death is given as by gunshot injuries. The body was handed over to the next of kin at about 4:30 p.m. and the cremation was done by his family members.

However enquiries made by reporters revealed that Avtar Singh assembly candidate of the AISSF (Manjit) was picked up by the police on July 26 and not on August 6 to pressurize the family for the arrest of Bhai Jarnail Singh Shatrana alias Jaila Avtar Singh was kept in illegal custody till Aug.6 and interrogated by the CIA staff. His father Kehar Singh and villagers met the SSP Satish Kumar Sharma who reportedly could not give any satisfactory response to them. Thereafter they went to see the Governor. The Governor reportedly asked the IGP (Internal Vigilance) to inquire into the matter that got the necessary inquiry made by deputing enquiry the DSP informed the IGP (Internal Vigilance) that Avtar Singh was safe in police custody and said he would be produced in court from where he could be bailed out.

The case against Avtar Singh was registered on Aug.6 when the CIA Inspector sent a “Ruga” from Detal village to Patran police station to do so. The same day he was killed in an “encounter” in Gurdialpura Bir.

Enquiries further revealed that his father Kehar Singh was also kept in illegal custody from July 31 and was letoffonAug.6 only when the villagers insisted that they would not cremate the body of Avtar Singh till Kehar Singh was released.

Significantly there was no case pending against Avtar Singh when he was picked up onJuly 26 till Aug. 6 the day he was killed in an “encounter”.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 27, 1991