SFJ want Canada to arrest visiting Punjab SSP Charanjit Sharma for Killing of Sikhs in Behbal Kalan

Toronto, Canada (Augusts 12, 2016): Invoking the provisions of Canada, Criminal Code and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a Sikh human rights group has approached the Canadian Government to arrest and prosecute visiting Indian police officer Charanjit Shama for commanding the police party in October 2015 that killed two and injured scores of Sikhs peacefully protesting at Behbal Kalan village in Punjab against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikhs For Justice’s August 12 letter to Minister Goodale, McCallum and Dion, states that the reports of Justice Katju and Justice Zora Commissions create “reasonable ground to believe” that on October 14, 2015 Charanjit Sharma committed acts rendering him inadmissible to Canada under subsections 36(1)(c) and 36(2)(c) of IRPA”.

Sub-section 36(1)(c) & (2)(c) of IRPA provide that “a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality for committing an act outside Canada that is an offence in the place where it was committed and that, if committed in Canada, would constitute an offence under an Act of Parliament punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 10 years”.

“Criminal acts for which there are reasonable grounds to believe that Charanjit was a party, either by committing, aiding or abetting, include: Murder, Manslaughter, Discharging firearm with intent, Unlawfully causing bodily harm, Assault; Aggravated assault and Breach of trust by public officer”, SFJ, letter further states.

Citing the Justice Katju Commission report (read full report here), attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to SFJ stated: “overwhelming evidence and witnesses deposed before the inquiry commissions strongly points out that SSP Sharma of Moga opened fire up to a distance of 20 feet and even kicked women protesters”.

ALSO READ: FULL TEXT OF JUSTICE (RETD.) KATJU COMMISSION REPORT REGARDING KILLINGS IN BEHBAL KALAN, PUNJAB …

“Charanjit Sharma is benefitting from a system of state-sanctioned impunity and that the Punjab Government will not file murder charges”, added attorney Pannun.

“We arc campaigning with Trudeau government to ban the en, of Indian police officials responsible for human rights violations and if found in Canada, should be prosecuted to the fullest of extent of law”, further stated attorney Pannun.

WATCH VIDEO: DISCUSSING REPORT OF JUSTICE KATJU COMMISSION ON BEHBAL KALAN FIRING [TALKSHOW] …

Documentary evidence of impunity in the Indian Police, and specifically the Punjab Police, is widespread and was recently discussed by the British Columbia Court of Appeal in an extradition case: India v. Badesha, in which the court held that “in addition to evidence of impunity, there was also evidence of under-reporting of incidents, cover-ups, unexplained suspicious deaths and the continuation of custodial abuse despite judicial condemnation”.

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EYEWITNESSES EXPOSE POLICE ON OCT. 14 BEHBAL KALAN KILLING OF SIKH YOUTH [1]:-

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