No whereabouts of Jasvir Singh Jassa pickedup by Barnala police

Barnala, Punjab (August 15, 2014): According to information released by Sikh Organization of Prisoners Welfare one Jasvir Singh ‘Jassa’ of village Manaki in Barnala was taken from his home by Punjab police in the early hours of 13th August, under very suspicious circumstances and there has been no whereabouts of him since then.

“In a move that mirrors the dark days of the 1980-90’s, the family home was surrounded by officers, who entered the house by climbing over the walls. Jasvir Singh was taken under false pretences, with claims that he wpuld simply be questioned and would return home soon”, reads a release by SOPW, an NGO working for the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners.

According to SOPW, Jasvir Singh’s family have gone from police station to police station in the local area of Barnala and nobody has claimed that they made the arrest or that they know where he is being held. The family have told us that when the police raided their house there were no local police officers or panchayat members present and when they asked for the name and number of the arresting officer the reply they got was that the “SHO summoned Jasvir Singh.”

Jasvir Singh had only just returned home in the last couple of months when he was released after spending 5 years separated from his family. SOPW has expressed concerns over his appearent illegal and secret detention.