Amritsar/ Chandigarh: Sikh political prisoner Gurdeep Singh Khera could not be transferred to Punjab yesterday. While the state governments of Punjab and Karnataka have already cleared his jail transfer from Gulbarga jail in Karnataka to Central Jail in Amritsar (Punjab), his jail transferred is delayed by some transportation hurdles. As per information Karnataka police is still deliberating on how to transport Gurdeep Singh Khera to Punjab.
“Given the long distance between the two jails there is a feeling that it might not be good idea to shift him to Amritsar by road with escort vehicles. It is being suggested that taking him to Punjab by train could be a better option” media reports quote a Karnataka govt. official as saying.
Gurdeep Singh Khaira, 53, in Jail since 1990 and currently Gurbarg Jail (Karnatka).
According to Karnataka ADGP (prisons) Kamal Pant, all legal and government formalities for Khera’s transfer to Amritsar have been completed. The transfer is now dependent on the availability of policemen from Karnataka to escort the prisoner on his 3,000 km journey to Punjab, he added.
The ADGP further said that “the Punjab police have provided a no-objection certificate for the transfer of the Gurdeep Singh Khera. Appropriate clarifications sought by the Karnataka government has been provided and official consent has been given for transfer”.
Gurbarga SP Amit Singh reportedly refused to share details regarding jail transfer of Gurdeep Singh Khera with media.
“He would be shifted within a week but I can not share details on the mode of transport to be used”, SP Amit Singh reportedly said.
While talking to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone, a representative of Bandi Singhs Rihai Sangharsh Committee said that Gulbarga was far away from Amritsar and it would take more than two days to reach Amritsar from there.
“We have specific information that Karnataka government is making necessary arrangements to transfer Gurdeep Singh Khera to Amritsar and he would be in Amritsar soon” Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, convenor of Bandi Singhs Rihai Sangharsh Committee said.