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US Lawsuit against Badal: Punjab police has started harassing plaintiff’s family

August 13, 2012 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Barnala, Punjab (August 13, 2012): As per media reports the summons issued by a US court against Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal during his USA visit has caused it’s reaction by police in Punjab. 

“Punjab police is on its toes to pin down the family of one of the complainant against Badal” reports Times of India (TOI). 

It is notable that one Jagtar Singh of Kothe Gill village in Barnala and US based Human Rights organization ‘Sikhs for Justice’ had approached US Federal court under US alien torts claim act and torture victims protection act in Wisconsin.

 This law is being widely in use in US to nail culprits responsible for major human rights violations. The respective US court had issued summons to Badal giving him 21 days time to file reply.

As per information the Barnala district police is making frequent visits to the family of Jagtar Singh for gathering information about him. 

“Jagtar Singh, who according to police officials was declared proclaimed offender in Punjab, had shifted to US in late 2008” reports TOI.

Barnala police led by DSP Tapa and Sehna police station SHO visited the village on late Saturday evening and enquired about Jagtar from his father Chand Singh, brother Chamkaur Singh. 

It is being said that police is exerting pressure on the family to ask Jagtar Singh for withdrawing the complainant. The family fears that they may have to face harassment at the hands of police.

Barnala SSP Surjit Singh confirming the Barnala police getting active about Jagtar said “it came out during digging information about Jagtar’ past that he is a PO for jumping bail in an NDPS act case and has dubious past”. 

Now the police has started accusing Jagtar Singh for “having links with alleged terrorists in past”. 

SSP is reported to have said it has come out that Jagtar Singh in the past had links with terrorists and police wanted to know whether he still is in contact with some terrorist organization”. He though denied putting pressure on the family.

Jagtar’ brother Chamkaur Singh is said to have told TOI that police and intelligence officials had come calling on several occasions from Saturday to enquire about my brother and his activities in US and back home in the past. We have been told that they could be summoned to police station anytime. 

We are law abiding citizens and are living peacefully let no one should harass us, Chamkaur Singh is said to have told media persons.

Human rights activists are viewing these police activities as harassment tactics aimed at pressurizing plaintiff to withdraw legal proceedings initiated against Parkash Singh Badal, who is accused of overlooking torture by police and shielding culprit police officers.

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Related Topics: Parkash Singh Badal, Sikhs in United States

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