Enforced Disappearance

Prof. Bhullar’s father, uncle and friend were killed in police custody; Cops enjoyed blind impunity

Ludhiana, Punjab (April 14, 2013): According to a news report published at the website of Times of India (TOI): “[t]he custodial disappearance of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's father and uncle is believed to have been a turning point in his life”.

Tejinder Singh Billu’s family suffered agony and torture for 20 years

Patiala/Sunam, Punjab (March 12, 2013): Tejinder Singh Billu, a Punjab level footballer, was abducted and tortured by Punjab police about 20 years ago, in 1993. He was 29 years old at that time. Punjab police subjected to enforced disappearance and there were no whereabouts of Tejinder Singh till date.

No whereabouts of Tejinder Singh since 1993 – Cops get 10 years for abduction, wrongful confinement

Patiala, Punjab (March 12, 2103): Whereas, a CBI court in Patiala sentenced a SSP rank police officer, besides five others for 10 years jail in a 1993 abduction case on March 11, 2013; there are no whereabouts of the Sikh person who was abducted by the accused twenty years ago.

SSP Preetpal Singh Virk, 3 others get 10 yrs jail in a 1993 case for abduction and custodial torture

Patiala, Punjab (March 12, 2103): It is learnt that the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here on March 11, 2013 sentenced Amritsar (rural) senior superintendent of police (SSP) Preetpal Singh Virk to 10-year rigorous imprisonment after finding him, along with other cops, guilty of illegal confinement and "kidnapping in order to murder" of a Punjab-level footballer in 1993.

Punjab govt. defends appointment of human rights abuser Sumedh Saini as DGP of Punjab

Chandigarh (August 01, 2012): Punjab Government has produced it's confidential records before the Punjab and Haryana High Court to defend the appointment of human rights abuser and IPS officer Sumedh Singh Saini as Director General of Police (DGP). The government argued that the Sainis has “outstanding” annual confidential reports (ACRs). Moreover, according of the Government, it was the emerging volatile” situation in Punjab — owing to orders being issued to execute the death warrant against Punjab CM Beant Singh’s assassin Balwant Singh Rajoana in March — which compelled the state government to immediately appoint Saini as the DGP.

High Court summons the record of Sumedh Saini’s promotions & his appointment as DGP

Chandigarh (July 27, 2012): The hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking removal of Sumedh Singh Saini as DGP of Punjab continues in Punjab and Haryana High Court. This petition is moved by NGO named Voices for Freedom (VFF). In recent hearing in the court the VFF counsel countered the allegations levelled by the state government against VFF and told the court that CBI had registered a case of murder and abduction against Sumedh Saini.

Rare conviction: After 22 years of killing a Sikh in fake encounter Indian cops get life term

Lucknow, India (March 30, 2012): Twenty years after a case of staged shoot-out, a CBI court in Ghaziabad on Thursday held 17 policemen guilty and sentenced 16 of them to life imprisonment on March 29, 2012, making it perhaps the largest number of cops convicted for life at one go in the country. They were convicted of killing a Sikh, Jaivender Singh Jasna of Amritsar, in a fake encounter in 1992.

Let’s Not Forget the Injustice in Punjab

"From 1984 to 1995 Indian security forces and pro-independence militias fought a brutal war in Punjab that left tens of thousands dead. Tens of thousands were disappeared and tortured. Tragically, the perpetrators of these gross human rights violations continue to walk free and some were even rewarded for their actions."

SCI’s decision would impose blind impunity zone in Punjab: SSF

Patiala (December 08, 2011): Sikh Students Federation has raised it’s grave concern over Supreme Court of India’s decision in the case of enforced disappearance of three relatives of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar and has term the decision as most unfortunate. Supreme Court yesterday set aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing CBI inquiry into the matter, on mere ethical ground that High Court judge ordering the inquiry had certain reason for prejudice against one of the accused police officer.

Two decades of impunity: SCI set aside CBI probe against police officers accused of practising enforced disappearances

New Delhi, India (December 07, 2011): The Supreme Court of India today quashed a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the CBI to investigate the enforced disappearance of three innocent Sikhs, including son of a former IAS officer and the father and uncle of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, in 1991.

Pre-Trial stay in Professor Bhullar’s relatives’ disappearance case: SCI may pronounce decision on 7 December

New Delhi, India (December 06, 2011): Supreme Court of India may pronounce it's decision in case related to killing of father, uncle and friend of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar. Senior Police officers, including IPS (Indian Police Services) officers are facing the charge. Professor Bhullar's father, uncle and friend were abducted by Punjab Police in 1991 and were never heard upon thereafter, a CBI investigation, carried under the directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2008, has revealed.

Systematic Practice of enforced disappearance: Now mass graves are found in South Kashmir too

Srinagar/Kashmir (November 7, 2011): The issue of secret killings during enforced disappearance of civilians in Kashmir by Indian Security forces is has now begin to come in to light. Mass graves are now reported to have been found in Bindu-Kokarnag area of South Kashmir. Auqaf Committee is reported to have confirmed the presence of several unidentified graves, according to various media reports.

Report on Disappearances raises the plight of “helf widows” of Kashmir

Srinagar (July 28, 2011): The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) today released the report Half Widow, Half Wife? Responding to Gendered Violence in Kashmir. It examines the situation of women in Indian-administered Kashmir whose husbands have ‘disappeared,’ but not yet been declared deceased. Members of APDP who are themselves half widows released this report at SK Municipal Park, Srinagar.