September 2012 Archive

Sikh leader reacts sharply on NIA’s attempt to crush political dissent

Patiala/Punjab (September 29, 2012): Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema, a Sikh political activist and Senior Vice President of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani (ADPP) has reacted sharply to media reports suggesting NIA’s attempt to link Sikh political activists to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

India’s NIA attempting to link political activists with BKI to crush political dissent?

Ludhiana/Patiala, Punjab (September 29, 2012): According to media reports, the National Investigating Agency (NIA), has lodged a formal FIR to investigate the role of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in alleged attempts to revive “terror in Punjab”.

Torture on Bhai Kulvir Singh Barapind: SJF demands termination of Indo-American Extradition Treaty

New York (September 28, 2012): Galvanized by the Human Rights Watch’s September 27 report about Kulbir Singh Barapind’s torture by the Indian authorities, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has approached Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State urging to terminate the Extradition Treaty between United States and India due to India’s routine practice of torturing detainees.

“Barapind’s case gives the Indian government a high-profile reminder to take action against the chronic problem of torture in custody: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch called for an investigation into allegations that the Punjab police tortured Kulvir Singh Barapind after his September 20, 2012, arrest on charges of waging war on the state, possession of explosives, and sedition. His lawyer told Human Rights Watch that Barapind had complained to the magistrate that the police “applied electric shocks to his ears, beat him, and humiliated him.” The United States had extradited Barapind to India on June 17, 2006, on murder charges after obtaining assurances from India that he would not be tortured. A court in India subsequently acquitted Barapind of all charges and released him in April 2008.

Human rights body knocks at US Embassy doors against Sikh leaders torture

New Delhi/Jalandhar (September 27, 2012): According to information the issue of arrest, detention and custodial torture of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani (ADPP) President and SGPC member Bhai Kubir Singh Barapind has now reached to United States Embassy in India.

“Tytler’s Role In Attack on Gurudwara Pul Bangash In 1984” – Delhi Court To Hear Arguments

New Delhi/India (September 27, 2012): Based on the affidavit of US based witness Resham Singh to testify against Tyler’s role in the attack on Gurudwara Pul Bangash which resulted in killing of several Sikhs, Additional Sessions Judge Anuradha Shukla set the case for arguments on November 9, 2012.

Police using spam calls with ISD code +92 to implicate Sikh leader under Unlawful Activities (P) Act

Ludhiana (September 27, 2012): The matter of detention of Daljit Singh Bittu, former president of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani has taken another turn. Today police produced Daljit Singh in the court of Ludhiana magistrate Mr. Ashish Thathai and demanded further custody to investigate the calls from phone numbers starting with +92, ISD code of Pakistan. Police alleged that Daljit Singh was in constant contact with others in Pakistan as they have found a number of calls from ISD code (+92) of Pakistan. SHO Nirmal Singh of Division No. 5 police station insisted that they need further custody of Daljit Singh to investigate his links with Paksitan.

Sikh Federation (UK) take up case of Undemocratic arrest of Panch Pardhani leaders in Punjab

London, UK (September 27, 2012): According to information available with Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) the Khalsa Human Rights (KHR) the human rights arm of the Sikh Federation (UK) has issued an urgent appeal regarding the arrests and treatment of Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind and Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu.

Sikh Diaspora initiated efforts against undemocratic detention of Sikh leadership in Punjab

Ludhiana/Punjab (September 26,2012): On Sunday September 30th the Canadian Sikh Coalition and Sikh Youth of America will be launching the "Free the Singh" Campaign to prevent further incarceration and torture of Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu, Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind and others.

Bhai Kulbir Singh was given electric shocks in custody; Now Sent to Kapurthala Jail; Next court appearance on Oct. 10

Jalandhar/Ludhiana, Punjab (September 26, 2012): Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind, President of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, was today produced before the Phillaur's Judicial Magistrate Jatinderpal Singh. He was sent to judicial custody for 14 days. He is reportedly sent to Kapurthala Jail.

Detention of ADPP leaders: CSC to ensure that political activists are not subjected to state sanctioned violence

In Punjab, India Daljit Singh Bittu and Kulbir Singh Barapind have been arrested by the Punjab police. Kulbir Singh Barapind is the current president of the political party Akali Dal Panch Pardhani and also an elected representative of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. He is currently the only SGPC member that is not affiliated to Badal from the entire Doaba region. Daljit Singh Bittu is the former president of the ADPP and a long-time political activist.

Arrest of Panch Pardhani leaders: NGO demand Amnesty & Human rights watch intervention

New York (September 25, 2012): Taking a serious note of the undemocratic detention of Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a Sikh NGO has approached international human rights organizations seeking intervention and support.

Sikh leaders tortured in police custody; Court extends custody of Bhai Daljit Singh & KS Barapind

Ludhiana/Phillaur (September 25, 2012): Akali Dal Panch Pardhani President Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind was produced in Phillaur Court on September 25, 2012 by the police, where the police demanded his custody for some more days. The court is reported to have extended the remand of Barapind for one more day. He shall be reproduced in the court tomorrow i.e. September 26, 2012. [...] “Both Bhai Daljit Singh and Kulbir Singh Barapind told me personally that they were subjected to third degree physical torture by the police during custody” said Advocate H. S. Cheema.

Media questioning police allegations against Bhai KS Barapind, while Avtar S. Makkar endorse upon police theory

Amritsar/Jalandhar (September 25, 2012): Whereas various media sections are posing questions on police theory against Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind, President of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani (ADPP), the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar went on to endorse on Police claims allegations against Bhai Barapind.

ADPP leaders charged under Explosive Act without any recovery

Ludhiana/Punjab (September 24, 2012): According to information Punjab police has implicated Bhai Daljit Singh and Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind under Explosives Act, 1884 without any recovery.

Political, social and Human rights orgs jointly condemned arrest of Sikh Leaders under UAPA

Jalandhar/Punjab (September 24, 2012): Various Social, Political, Religious and Human Rights Organizations of Punjab have jointly condemned the arrest of Sikh leaders Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind (President of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani) and Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu (Former President of ADPP). Both leaders were arrested by Punjab police for waging war against the Indian state and notorious “Unlawful Activities (P) Act” was also lashed against them besides various other laws.

Moga Court sentenced 34 Dera followers to 3 years imprisonment each for arson, rioting

Moga/Punjab (September 23, 2012): In a recent court verdict 34 followers of Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) are sentenced to 3 years imprisonment each for indulging in arson, causing damage to public property and ordered to pay fine of Rs. 5000 each. Another accused Agya Pal Singh has reportedly been acquitted in the absence of concrete evidence against him.

Arrest of Daljit Singh and Bhai Barapind: Is Badal government provoking the situation? – Dal Khasla

Hoshiarpur (September 23, 2012): Dal Khalsa has asked state home minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to give statement on the arrest of leaders of SAD (Panch Pardani) Daljit singh and Kulbir Singh Barapind under various sections of IPC including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Service on Congress (I) “valid” in 1984 Sikh Genocide Case – US Court Ruling

New York/US (September 21, 2012): In September 19 decision, US Federal Judge Robert Sweet ruled that Congress Party of India has been “properly served” with the summons in November 1984 Sikh Genocide case through Hague Service Convention. Denying motion of the Congress (I) to dismiss the Sikh Genocide case for lack of service, the court held that the plaintiffs’ evidence establishes that service was effected properly in accordance with the Hague Convention.

Bhai Daljit Singh charged under UA(P)A – sent on 5 days police remand; Panch Pardhani Office sealed

Ludhiana/Punjab (September 21, 2012): According to latest information Ludhiana Police produced Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu former President of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani in Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mr. Asis Thathai's court levelling allegations of serious offences against him and demanded police remand for ten days. CJM has sent Bhai Daljit Singh on five days police remand.

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