Ludhiana (December 09, 2011): Sikh under-trials lodged in maximum security jail, Nabha (Punjab) would proceed on indefinite hunger strike beginning December 10 – observed as World Human Rights Day. The prisoners have alleged that their cases were being delayed as the police officials fail to provide escort guards to take the undertrials to the court.
“The jail authorities do not provide us with guards on the court dates as a result of which we miss our hearing and the decision on our cases get delayed,” Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, counsel for Balvir Singh Beera alias Bhootna, said.
Beera and his wife Sukhjinder Kaur were arrested in August 2009 after the former opened fire at the officials of the narcotics cell who had come to check his baggage. At the time of the incident Beera was traveling on the Jammu bound Jhelum Express. Beera and his wife were brought to Ludhiana court on Friday.
Apart from Beera and his wife at least 30 more undertrails would sit on indefinite hunger strike.
Talking to reporters, Beera’s counsel said, “Last year too some undertrials had to sit on hunger strike for the same reason. After that the situation improved. But now we are told that the police is busy with pre-election rallies and so we are forced to miss our court hearings.”
Such delays lead to violation of human rights, he added.