not return. However, their belongings lying in the house were looted by 60 to 70 persons, The burnt motor cycle, too, was taken away.
Annexure 8
Statement of S. Kuldeep Singh S/o S. Joginder Singh, 18 years, 1st year student of G.N.D. Polytechnic, Village and P.O, Poobli, Teb. Nathana, District Bhatinda. recorded on 30.9.1988 (11 a.m.) at the Appollo Hospital, Hyderabad.
It was September 15,1988. The time was about 2.30 p.m. We ate nine students who were living in a rented house in the S.B.I. Colony. There were five to six other students in the house next door. We were having our lunch at the house when people in hundreds suddenly descended upon us. We did not understand what they were saying but they were shouting and come armed. They were armed with swords, Knives, lathis and iron rods Some of them were on scooters and motorcycles, others were on foot. There were many young- men and there were also some children, We had come to Bidar only a month earlier. All of us were first year students. We were terrified When we saw this violent crowd, We ran out to fields and hid in a corn (Mokki) field We were pursued by the crowd. They caught us in the field about one to ‘one and half kilometers from our house. They started beating us and stabbing us. I became unconscious and do not know what happened later, I recovered consciousness in the Usmania Hospital.
Annexure 9
Statement of Deepinder Singh Dhillon S/o Lt, Colonel T.S. Dhillon resident of 2553, Sector 33-C, Chandigarh.
I am a student of I year ‘new! of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (GN. D. E.), Bidar with Electronics as my subject. I stayed in Hostel No. 2 in the Bombay Building w! is one kilometer from the college.
I joined the college in 1987. Ever since, there have been a series of minor incidents and despite having beea reported to the police and college authorities, no action was taken.
The hostel chowkidar on 15.9.88 reported that there were cases of looting the previous night. At 9 30a. m., I saw one burat motor cycle and three scooters lying at the corner of the street. Some local residents advised me to go back to the hostel as it was risky in the city. I Went to the roof-top and saw three houses being burnt and smoke was visible from Ashiana’ side, many students were living in the Ashiana. A ‘rehriwala’ told us to leave our bostel as a mob was coming towards us. All of us left for the College compound where the Superintendent of Police advised us to remain inside the campus. Then ‘ne S P. vanished while the Principal was present. A mob reached the gates and attacked the premises with rods, sticks, stones and petrol bombs. The students collected to defend themselves. When the students reached the mob, the police used to lathi charge us and disappeared when the mob attacked. Even the police fired at us and being helpless, we retreated. In the lathi charge by the Police, six students were injured and 10-12 students were arrested. They were got released by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gulbarga, who had reached Bidar at 10 30 pm. The attack on the College continued during the whole day.
In all, 20 students got injured when the mob entered the premises by demolishing the boundary wall, led by the police. When the students tried to defend themselves, they were tear- gassed by the police. The mechanical laboratories were damaged and the students took shelter a top the college building wherefrom I saw many houses being set to fire while the mob was shouting, sardarji, come outside and see”’. The police was present when the houses were being burnt.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gulbarga, restored some order and transported us to the Gurdwara at 9 p.m. Next night, on 16/179 88 the Gurdwara, too, was attacked but the students and kar sewa workers repulsed it.
The killer mob was mainly of the Shiv Sena and “Navy The latter is a local group and has nothing to do with the Navy.
The attacks were well organized and not spontaneous, as is suggested by interested persons, Inadequacy of the donation has nothing to do with the incidents.
On 20.9.88, under the escort of Karnataka State Reserve Police, I could leave for Chandigarh.
Annexure 10
Statement of Gurjot Singh Bajwa s/o Lt. Colonel G. S. Bajw: resident of 1512, Sector 36-D, Chandigarh.
I am a Il year student of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Bidar. Since the time of my admission, I noted a Kind of hatred by the locals against the students. Minor quarrels and fights occurred often, but no action was taken by the authorities. But, on 15,9 88 more than six students were killed.
I got up at about 6 a.m. as usual when a local Hindu neighbored came to us and told us that there had been some trouble last night and the locals were planning to attack the students and some truckloads of persons from Gulbarga were reaching Bidar for the purpose, He advised us to remain indoors as the college was the prime target of the mob. It all appeared to be pre-planned as the truckloads of Gulbarga people were not coming for nothing. We lucked ourselves in the room of jour house which was adjacent to the college. We heard shouts when out of the ventilator, we learnt from a student that several students have been beaten up and one student is a captive of the mob, we crossed over to the college when we saw a big mob coming. Police was just two steps in front of the mob and did not allow us to come out. The mob attacked the nearly Pinewood house’ wherein one Professor and three students were trapped. The police showed no interest to save them, even though the Principal shouted to the police (o rescue them. Ata latter moment, the police relented and rescued them, We noticed smoke coming out of many houses. When the mob started attacking the college, the police came inside and fired three rubber bullets and tear gas shells upon us, when we tried to defend ourselves. At night, some police officers from Gulbarga came and took us to the local gurdwara where we stayed for five days before being escorted to Hyderabad.
Annexure 11
Statement of Sukhwinder Singh s/o S. Joginder Singh, resident of House No 3203, Sector 27-D, Chandigarh.
Tama student of Il year (Computer Science) in Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, at Bidar. On September 14, 1988, I heard shouts outside my house ‘Rouble’ in Gandhi Ganj area, On coming out, | and my two friends learnt that 10 students of our college had been beaten up by the locals. We locked our house from inside and switched off the lights. After about 10 minutes, a mob arrived led by a motor cycle rider. The whole night, the mob kept itself busy attacking our building. At about 12.30p.m., Mehandi, our landlord, came to us and told us that we were safe but at 2 p. m. he took us to the College in his jeep. Our motor bikes had been burnt, The landlord assured us that our belongings were safe.
Then the mob started throwing stones on us in the college campus. The students, too, replied with stones when the police threw tear gas shells upon us. They were assisting the mob to loot, plunder and burn the houses of the students. When the night falls we expected more such attacks in connivance with the local police. Some police officers from Gulbarga arrived at 10 p.m. and took us to the Gurdwara by eight buses. Our landlord told us on phone that all our belongings had been looted. The situation at the Gurdwara was tense and the students kept guard by turn on the 17th and 18th September.
I Went to my residence on 18.9 88 under police escort but found the house locked from outside as well as from inside. From a window, I peeped into my room wherefrom everything bad been looted. I came back and the police escorted us to Secunderabad on 20.9.88.
I lost the following goods worth about Rs 25,00:
One Yamaha motor cycle; Sony 2-in-1; Quartz clock;
Cash Rs.300 ; Bedding and blanket; V.1-P. suitcase and a VIP, airbag; Five Pants and 10 shirts, Utensils; 20-25. cassettes; Books, a Wrist watch.
I have been able to come out of Bidar with only a torn shirt, a pant and a small length of loin cloth with Rs. 250/- given by the Gurdwara. I did not have even my chappals on my feet.
Annexure 12
Statement of Satinder Singh Mangat s/o Shri H.S. Mangat, House No. 3585, Sector 35-D, Chandigarh.
Tama Il year student of B. & C. E. class. Because of lack of accommodation in the college, we students live in rented house in the city.
On 14.988, we four students had gone to the market for dinner. When we were returning on our motor bikes at about 10 pm., we sawa mob of about 200-300 persons, they could not recognize us because of the vehicles’ light.
September 15 was holiday and we got up late. At about 10 a, m., we heard unusual voice from the college. Some students came and told us that some students had been beaten up and houses burnt down during I might and in the morning. We proceeded to the college and on way, saw flames coming out of several houses. A mob of about 1,000 was moving with bikes and other goods.
By that time about 700 800 students had collected in the college. At midday the mob attacked the college by throwing stones and petrol bombs etc. They made a breach in the boundary wall and in the presence of the police, entered the campus. The police were guiding the mob and when the students tried to defend themselves, they had to face rubber bullets and tear gas shells fired by the police.
The students were fighting to save their lives and did not allow the destruction of the College Building. Disappointed, the mob moved to the nearby Bank Colony and set fire to the buildings and vehicles of the resident students. They again, mobbed the college and started brick batting. A man on Bullet motor cycle wanted us to see the Sikh students lying injured or dead in the streets, so that we may know about that futility of fighting back.
We were looking helplessly, when the locals were busy looting and burning our property all over the city. As the local Police was at the back of the mob, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gulbarga, arrived late in the night and escorted us to the gurdwara. Six students were killed and 20 were missing, Shops of local Sikhs were burnt down too.
After 5-6 days, the police escorted us to Hyderabad. I have lost everything worth about Rs 7000/-
The attacks were motivated by political persons who Master-minded the plot, so that the Sikhs should not live in this country. The Superintendent of Police, Bidar, was behind the conspiracy.
Annexure 13
Statement of Gurjit Singh s/o S, Kulwant Singh, resident of 3201, Sector 35-D, Chandigarh.
I am a student of B. E, (Industrial and Production Engineering) II year, and lived at Bidar in White Shadow Nut on Mailoor Road.
On 14 9.88 at mid night, some students from ‘Ashiana’ side came running to us and informed us that a mob had attacked the locality.
On 15.9 88. at about 8 am.,. students from the locality came and told us of a mob coming. We locked our houses, took ‘our kirpans and shouted to all the nearby students to collect near Anand Restaurant, We were just near the Doctor’s house when the Superintendent of Police, along with a police party arrived and told us to retreat o our houses. The police surrounded us when on the intervention of the Principal, we were sent to the college campus where other students had already collected. It was 230 p.m, when the mob arrived. The students approached the police who did not interfere. The mob started burning the houses and advanced towards the college throwing stones. It fring from his service rifle. We kept throwing stones and the mob left for the Bank Colony where most of the students were living. They started burning the houses, before the eyes of the police which was a silent spectator.
At night, the Deputy Inspector General of Police arrived and escorted us to tic gurdwara wherefrom we were escorted to Hyderabad on 20.9.85.
Other Publications of the P. H.R. O.
- Nakodar firing (February 3-4, 1986)
- Chandigarh Assembly Firing (March 23, 1986)
- Anandpur Sahib Firing (March 26, 1986)
- Dresi Ground Killings (March 27, 1986)
- Golden Temple ‘Police Action’ Operation Black Thunder-I (April 30, 1986)
- Dera Baba Nanak Killings (August 30, 1986)
- Brahmpura Episode (1987)
- On Death of Sarabjit Singh Johal (September 12, 1987)
- Sangrur Jail Killings (October 14, 1987)
- Fake Encounter Punjab (May 12 to Dec. 31, 1987)
- Oppression in Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts (1987)
- On abduction of advocate’s son by the police, from SGTB Hospital, Amritsar January 15, 1988)
- Annual Report-1987 (January 26,1988)
- The Truth about Punjab
15 .Punjab Bulldozed—A report to the world with special reference to Operation Black Thunder-II (May 9-18, 1988)
16.Representation to the President of India regarding death sentences of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh
Punjab Human Rights Organization
Chairman : Justice A: S. Bains (Former Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High. Court) : 22, Sector 2, Chandigarh, Telephone : 28162,
President: Justice C, $. Tiwand (Former Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court) 1107, Secjor 11, Chandigath. Telephone : 20307.
Vice-Presidents: Mohinder Singh Jawanda 566, Model Town, Ludhiana. Phone : 25980 Dr. Jiwan Jot Kaur Past New Hariodra Nagar, Faridkot. Dr. (Mrs.) S.KGill 1147, Sector 15, Chandigarl General Secretary: D. S. Gill, Advocate, B 4, Pavte House, PAU Campus, Ludhiana,
Secretaries: Gurbhajan Singh Gill (Coordination) Jatjader Singh Sandhu, Advocate (Organization) Mohinder Singh Grewal Advocate (Finance) ~ De. Gurbhagat Siogh (Education) . Malvinder Singh Mali (Iavestigations) N.S. Chahal (International Relations)
- Nowth Oval, Hamilton, Canada L8S 3¥8. Phone : 561-2834
Tejinder Singh Abuja, Advocate (Public Relations). 10-Lawyers Chamibers, Civil Wing,
Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi.” Telephone : 2927842
Head Office:
27-D, Satabha Nagar, ‘Ludbiana (India)… Telephone: 30008.
Artcal7_(b) No donation, shall be accepted from Government or political parties or their representatives.
(c), Receipt of all funds shall be against official recalpts of the P.H.R.O.
(P.H.R.O. Constitution)
Please do, not contribute/donate without ‘getting official, receipts from our authorized representative.
General Secretary.
The picture above: The well near the S.P.’s residence at Bidar from where four dead bodies of Sikh students were recovered.
Below: A wall of Guru Nanak Engineering college, Bidar, broken by Shiv Sena vandals to make entry into the college.