Cops crack down on Sikh hardliners across Punjab
MIDNIGHT SWOOP Police’s statewide operation aimed at thwarting radicals’ rallies; DSP hurt as fasting activist Khalsa’s supporters hurl stones at cops at Ajnala
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police launched a massive state-wide crackdown on Sikh hardliners beginning Saturday night and took several key radicals into preventive custody. The midnight operation was planned to prevent the hardliners and their supporters from taking out “peace vitiating” marches on Sunday.
The radicals had planned three marches — Faridkot to Hasanpur, Ludhiana to Hasanpur and Ajnala to Amritsar — seeking premature release of Sikh prisoners lodged in jails within and outside the state. A clash took place between Khalsa’s supporters and cops at Ajnala after a police party reached there to stop protesters from taking out a march. A deputy superintendent of police was injured as protesters hurled stones at cops.
What alarmed the police was an “aggressive build-up” in and around the house of hardliner activist Surat Singh Khalsa at Hasanpur village in Ludhiana district. Khalsa is on a “fast” since January 16 seeking release of political Sikh prisoners.
The police on Sunday removed stacks of petrol bottles, which were allegedly to be used as petrol bombs, tyres and bricks from Khalsa’s house. Later, senior police and administration officials held meetings with Khalsa and explained to him “facts” about Sikh prisoners in jails across Punjab and outside the state and why they cannot be released prematurely.
Senior government functionaries said it was after political clearance that police were given the green light to go ahead with the operation.
Prominent radicals taken into preventive custody were Mokham Singh and Gurdeep Singh, president and general secretary of United Akali Dal, respectively, Amrik Singh Ajnala, chief of a Damdami Taksal faction, Harpal Singh Cheema of the SAD (Panch Pardhani), Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, former Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief and now activist of United Akali Dal and members of Sangharsh Committee, including Manwinder Singh Giaspur, Damandeep Singh Khalsa, Malkit Singh Mor, Gurpreet Singh Guri and Inderpal Singh, and Suba Singh Ramroni of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee.
“An appropriate action was taken to stop activities which were aimed at vitiating peace by some elements. The decision was taken not to let hardliners hold three separate marches. All troublemakers were identified and taken into preventive custody to avoid any untoward incident,” a senior police officer told Hindustan Times.
Protesters, who had assembled to take part in marches, were rounded up peacefully at Ludhiana and Faridkot. THE STANDOFF The state government’s deci- sion to launch the crackdown on hardliners clearly indicates the failure of talks between the police and the Sangharsh Committee that is behind the fast by Khalsa. The hunger strike by the activist had forced the state government to fasttrack the shifting of Sikh prisoners, including Devinderpal Singh Bhullar and Gurdeep Singh Khera, from other states to Punjab. The sangharsh committee, however, has been demanding that other Sikh prisoners sentenced to life must be released prematurely. The committee has submitted a list of 82 such prisoners.
According to the government, of the 82 prisoners, five have already been acquitted, five others are on bail, 15 are under trial, identities of six persons was yet to be established in absence of sufficient details not provided by the sangharsh committee, 26 persons are convicts lodged in Punjab jails, while 25 persons are in prisons of other states for offences committed in those states.
Government sources said of the 26 convicts lodged in Punjab jails, one was sentenced to death, eight are life convicts and 17 are short-term convicts.
“The gover nment has explained its position to Sangharsh Committee members, which include lawyers and various other organisations, in a series of meetings with senior government functionaries. The hardliners know that their case is not legally tenable, a government functionary claimed, hinting that some hardliners are using Khalsa for their vested interests.