Nakodar/Jalandhar (February 04, 2011): Five Sikh bodies namely Khalsa Action Committee, Dal Khalsa, AISSF, SAD (Panch Pardani) and Sikh Students Federation today asked the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership to sack former DGP Izhar Alam and ex-SP Surjit Singh from the primary membership of the Shiromani Akali Dal as both were responsible for killings of 4 youths 25 years ago on this day.
Pertinently, Ravinder Singh Littran, Bhai Harminder Singh Sham Chaurasi, Bhai Baldhir Singh Fauji and Bhai Jhalman Singh who were office bearers of the All India Sikh Students Federation were gunned down at Nakodar on Feb 4, 1986 while they were protesting against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib by some miscreants.
The convention in memory of all 4 was organized at Gurdwara Litran where leaders including Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema and Bhai Kulbir Singh Barapind of SAD (Panch Pardhani), Bhai Mohkam Singh (KAC), Kanwarpal Singh (DK), Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad (AISSF), Paramjit Singh Gazi (SSF) paid homage to all of them. The gathering honoured family members of all the four.
The organizer of the function Baldev Singh, who is also father of deceased Ravinder Singh lambasted Parkash Singh Badal for bitterly failing to bring the guilty officers to book.
Bhai Harpal Singh Cheema and Bhai Kulbir Singh stressed upon necessity of joint efforts by various panthic bodies to secure justice for the victims of “crimes against humanity” committed by Punjab police during 1980s-90s.
Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh fired salvo against Badal government for shielding the guilty police officers who were responsible for extra-judicial killings of Sikh youths.
Notably, both the former police officers have joined Akali Dal and according to media reports both are aspirants for assembly tickets.
While addressing the commemoration ceremony for “Saka Nakodar” martyrs, AISSF President Karnail Singh Peermohammad demanded that SAD (Badal) should table the report of Justice Gurnam Singh’s Inquiry related to the Nakodar killings which was held back by Surjit Singh Barnala then chief Minister of Punjab.
Bhai Mohkam Singh called upon the SGPC to install the portraits of all the four martyrs at Central Sikh Museum (Amritsar) as all of them had sacrificed their lives for the sake of religion.
AISSF President Karnail Singh Peermohammad demanded that SAD (Badal) should table the report of Justice Gurnam Singh’s Inquiry related to the Saka Nakodar killings which was held back by Surjit Singh Barnala then chief Minister of Punjab. “Twenty Five years have passed since innocents Sikhs were murdered in broad day by police and successive panthic Punjab Governments have shielded the killer police officials instead of prosecuting” he added.
SFJ announced that its Legal Director, Advocate Navkiran Singh will file a PIL petition in High Court demanding filing of FIR against police officers SHO Jaskirat Singh and then DSP Swarn Singh for extra judicial killing of four Federation members on February 04, 1986.
On the 4th February 1986, Federation members gathered in Nakodar to collect the Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which was desecrated and burnt in Shri Guru Arjan Dev Gurudwara, Nakodar on February 02, 1986. The police opened fire at this unarmed and peaceful gathering of Sikhs. By this unprovoked and unjustified firing by police, Bhai Ravinder Singh Littran, Bhai Harminder Singh Sham Chaurasi, Bhai Baldhir Singh Fauji and Bhai Jhalman Singh Rajowal Gorcian, were killed.
Earlier on February 02, 2011, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh held a ceremony at Akal Takht to declare Bhai Ravinder Singh Littran, Bhai Harminder Singh Sham Chaurasi, Bhai Baldhir Singh Fauji and Bhai Jhalman Singh Rajowal Gorcian, as martyrs of Sikh religion who gave their lives for the honor of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The function in remembrance of Saka Nakodar martyrs was held at Littran and was jointly organized by family members of martyrs of “Saka Nakodar” led by Jathedar Baldev Singh Bedi (father of Shaheed Bhai Ravinder Singh Littran), AISSF, SFJ and Akali Dal Panch Pardhani and was attended by Khalsa Action Committee, Dal Khalsa and other Sikh bodies.
The gathering passed unanimous resolutions:
1.) SAD (Badal) should table the report of Justice Gurnam Singh’s Inquiry related to the Saka Nakodar killings during the coming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
2.) SGPC to install the portraits of Bhai Ravinder Singh Littran, Bhai Harminder Singh Sham Chaurasi, Bhai Baldhir Singh Fauji and Bhai Jhalman Singh Rajowal Gorcian at SGPC Sikh Museum.
3.) Izhar Alam was guilty of killing not only these 4 youths but also dozens of others in fake encounters. He is responsible for mass scale human rights violations. By inducting him into Akali Dal and appointing him Chairman of Wakaf Board, Badals have set wrong precedent. This gathering demands that they (Badals) should undo their wrong by ousting him lest the history would paint both father and son with negative brush.
4.) SJF through its Legal Director Advocate Navkiran Singh should file the PIL Petition in High Court demanding filing of FIR against police officers SHO Jaskirat Singh and then DSP Swarn Singh for extra judicial killing of four Federation members on February 04, 1986.