Chicago, IL: (December 13, 2013): “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) have challenged the order of US Court dismissing the rights violation case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Badal.
On December 10, Sikh groups filed a Petition for “Panel Rehearing” before Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals urging to declare there is irrebuttable evidence that it was CM Badal who was served on August 09 at Oak Creek High School and it is not a case of mistaken identity.
Rights Groups in their Panel Rehearing presented the evidence to Seventh Circuit proving that Badal has tempered with the witnesses and evidence; has obstructed justice; plaintiffs’ families in Punjab were threatened with dire consequence by police; and Kalra’s claim that he was served instead of Badal is not credible. An affidavit by SAD (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann has also been submitted alleging that families of plaintiffs Jeet Singh Aloarkh and Jagtar Singh are threatened by Punjab Police coercing them to withdraw the case against CM Badal.
The lawsuit against Punjab Chief Minister Badal was filed under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) alleging that the defendant authorized, commanded and directed the unlawful acts of the security forces and Punjab Police operating under his command and authority. The Badal administration knew or should have known that the security forces and particularly Punjab Police committed acts of torture, abuse and inhuman and cruel treatment against Sikhs.
Citing the recent case (US v. Burge (2013)) of police torture, witness intimidation, false statements and tempering of evidence, the petition for Panel Rehearing states that CM Badal’s conduct in this case amounts to “obstruction of justice”.
Committing to continue the justice campaign, attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun legal advisor to SFJ stated that every legal remedy will be pursued at international level to hold CM Badal and his government accountable for on-going torture, illegal detentions and extra judicial killings of Sikhs in Punjab.
Admiring the efforts of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh for exposing Badal’s regime for illegally detaining hundreds of Sikh activists in Punjab, attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ stated that “an amended complaint will be filed against CM Badal to include the charges of “continuous illegal detention” and “torture in prisons”.
Bhai Gubaksh Singh is on “hunger strike” demanding unconditional release of Sikh activists who are languishing in prisons for years.