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Punjab police again pushing Sikh youth to radical domain by resorting to repression, fail to learn lessons


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Punjab police again pushing Sikh youth to radical domain by resorting to repression

 

The letter was unprecedented.

 

It was addressed by Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurdial Singh Ajnoha to Chief Minister Darbara Singh on December 31, 1981.

 

Jathedar Ajnoha said, “In case you don’t stop this, it might spark revolt among the Sikh masses and religious people like me might have to make sacrifices to stop it”. (Aggar Aap Ne Is Nu Na Rokiya Taan Ho Sakda Hai Ki Sikh Sangataan Vich Police De Virudh Bagawat Da Zazba Paida Ho Jaave Te Mere Varge Dharam Vich Vishwash Rakhan Wale Bandian Nu Aapni Kurbani De Ke Is Zulam Nu Rokna Pave.)

 

This was a letter against police repression on innocents in Punjab.

Almost four decades later when Giani Harpreet Singh who occupies the same seat of the supreme religio-political institution symbolising sovereignty of the Sikh doctrine, his taking up the same issue  was reminiscent of Jathedar Ajnoha.

 

Jathedar Harpreet Singh has been quoted in the newspapers saying, “It seems that the Sikhs are gradually being eliminated from India just like what was done to the followers of Buddhism. For the last few days, Sikh youth have been tortured and harassed mentally in police stations. When asked, cops said their mobile phones are being examined. They say these persons have shared posts on the social media”.

 

The harassment of the Sikh youth was one of the contributory factors to the rise of militancy in the beginning in Punjab. Fearing search operations by the army, many of the Sikh youth in the border districts crossed over to Pakistan when Operation Woodrose was launched after Operation Bluestar.

 

The harassment of the Sikh youth had intensified after the assassination of Nirankari chief Gurbachan Singh on March 24, 1980 in Delhi. The operation was carried out by Bhai Ranjit Singh with logistic support provided by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale he headed the Damdami Taksal at that time. He had also detailed Kabul Singh from Taksal to accompany Bhai Ranjit Singh.

The Sikhs in Delhi took out a procession on July 20, 1980 against this harassment of Sikhs.

 

There are striking parallels when the Punjab police and other security agencies have now intensified actions against the Sikh youth in the name of confronting radicalisation. It is the security agencies that have given more publicity to the other-wise non-starter Referendum 2020 campaign.

The latest case is that of Jaspreet Singh who was arrested under  the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and released after 16 days with the police telling the court that no evidence had been found during investigation.

 

Here is the statement issued by the police on his arrest:

 

“Chandigarh, June 30: The Punjab Police has foiled a major bid by Pakistan-backed terrorists to target socio-religious leaders and disturb the communal harmony of the state with the arrest of three members of the Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF). According to Punjab DGP, Dinkar Gupta, the terror module, busted on Sunday, was operating in various parts of Punjab at the behest of pro-Khalistani elements based in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UK. Gupta said one .32 bore pistol, along with 7 cartridges, has been recovered from the alleged terrorists, identified as Sukhchain Singh r/o Village Sehra, PS Ganda Kheri, Distt. Patiala; Amritpal Singh r/o Village Achanak, PS Boha, Distt Mansa; and Jaspreet Singh r/o Borewal Sohan, Police Station Majitha. Another of their associates, Lovepreet Singh r/o Kaithal, has already been arrested recently by Delhi Police, along with other KLF members.”

The modus operandi of the police continues to be the colonial even in the age of information technology and artificial intelligence.

 

It may be recalled that the youth used to go underground fearing arrest and torture by the police. This happened even during the Naxalite movement when the fake encounters started in Punjab.

The attitude of the political elite too remains the same and the issue is not that of the Akali Dal or the Congress being in power.

 

The civil society reacted strongly to the killing of gangster Vikas Dubey by the UP Police.

However, similar reaction to the state repression against political activists is by and large missing. Dissent is part of healthy democracy.

 

The security agencies need to study various dimensions of militancy in Punjab.

 

 

 

 

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