Hardeep Singh

CHANDIGARH Police place many leaders including former MP Simranjit Singh Mann, Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa and MP Amritpal SIngh’s father under house arrest

Depriving the Sikhs of exercising their right to stage peaceful demonstration, Police of India-administered Punjab on Tuesday arrested entire pro-freedom Sikh leadership to torpedo the grand assembly scheduled to be held at the site of Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (National Justice Protest), which is also known as Bandi Singh Rihai Morcha (Agitation for release of Sikh prisoners) at the borders of Chandigarh and Mohali to mark second anniversary of the launch of the agitation. 

To disperse the Sikhs while they were peacefully marching towards the official residence of Punjab Chief Minister to press their demands, the Police also resorted to use water cannons in cold weather and cane charge. Tear gas shells were also fired at the demonstrating Sikhs. Use of force left many Sikhs injured. 

The indefinite protest that was launched to press demand for release of the Sikh political prisoners including Jagtar Singh Hawara, Jagtar Singh Tara, Paramjit Singh Bheora, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Professor Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar and Gurdeep Singh Khera, who have been languishing in various jails of India for decades, has been continuing for last two years. 

Sikhs are sitting very peacefully at the protest site to register their protest in a democratic way for release of Sikh political prisoners who have already completed their imprisonment.

On its second anniversary, a grand gathering was called to intensify the stir as the Indian State is turning blind eye toward the genuine demands of the Sikhs. 

While the Mohali police had fortified the entry and exit points into Chandigarh, the Chandigarh police had enhanced security arrangements and deployed additional forces on the borders. But several protesters still managed to enter the capital.

The Sikh leaders from across Punjab and other states were prevented from attending the gathering. While many were arrested by the Police, some prominent leaders were put under house arrest. Besides, many Sikh activists who were on the way to Mohali to be part of the gathering, were harassed by the Police.

 Monday evening onwards, the Police squads started conducting raids at the residences of the Sikh activists.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president and three-time MP  Simranjit Singh Mann, Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwala President Ranjit Singh Damdami Taksal, Dal Khalsa leader Dilbagh Singh Gurdaspur, Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh etc. were placed under house arrest. 

Dal Khalsa acting president Paramjit Singh Mand, who was going to the morcha site, was also arrested by the police. Jathedar Jagtar Singh Hawara Committee head Professor Baljinder Singh, Sher-e-Punjab Akali Dal President Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, Akali Dal (Amritsar)’s Harjit Singh Miyanpur and Narinder Singh Kalabula were also arrested by the police, as per the reports.

The police detained several other leaders including Gurcharan Singh, father of Jathedar Sikh prisoner Jagtar Singh Hawara, Akali Dal Fateh President Jaskaran Singh Kahansinghwala, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli at the 34 Sector police station in Chandigarh. 

The police lathi-charged the peaceful marching Sikhs in Mohali and Chandigarh. The cops pushed them and also removed the turbans of many Sikhs. Many Sikhs were also injured and a large number of Sikhs were also arrested.

“Action of Bhagwant Mann government and Punjab Police is highly condemnable. Sikhs have been protesting peacefully for their rights, yet force was used against them”, said Prof. Baljinder Singh. 

In Quami Insaaf Morcha, the protesters are also demanding justice in the 2015 sacrilege and police-firing incidents in Faridkot.