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Lawyer in Khalra trial threatened

March 26, 2005 | Comments Off on Lawyer in Khalra trial threatened

On March 24, Brijinder Singh Sodhi, the prosecution lawyer in the Jaswant Singh Khalra trial, said that one of the accused police officers threatened him. Mr Sodhi claimed that the incident occurred when he was going to enter the court at around 11.30 a.m. He said a police officer, Surinderpal Singh, who was the Station […]

The US has revoked the visa of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his role in the violation of religious freedom. The Indian government and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) strongly criticized this move, with the Indian government requesting a review of the decision. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, Navtej Sarna, expressed the government’s disapproval […]

Deaths under police custody

March 12, 2005 | Comments Off on Deaths under police custody

Two of the three policemen responsible for the death of Satnam, a Dalit from Lohian village in Jalandhar, surrendered to the police on March 2. ASI Vijay Kumar, Head Constable Surjit Malik, and Home Guard Balkar Singh are the three responsible for Satnam’s death; Vijay Kumar is still evading arrest. The morning of February 6, […]

Cross-examination continues in Khalra trial

March 11, 2005 | Comments Off on Cross-examination continues in Khalra trial

On March 2, the court dismissed two applications demanding that KPS Gill be issued summons in the Jaswant Singh Khalra trial. KPS Gill was the Punjab Director-General of Police at the time of Khalra’s disappearance, and has been implicated by the testimony of key witness Kuldeep Singh. The two applications had been filed by Kuldeep […]

From March 2 to 4, defence lawyers examined SPO Kuldeep Singh, the key witness in the Jaswant Singh Khalra case. Earlier in the trial, Kuldeep Singh testified that he had seen Khalra’s torture and the disposal of his body, and implicated KPS Gill, the highest police officer in Punjab at the time. On March 3, […]

2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices

March 3, 2005 | Comments Off on 2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices

The U.S. Department of State released its 2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices on February 28, 2005. The report highlights the continuing impunity for disappearances in Punjab and police violations of human rights. The report also discusses the failure of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to pursue the mass cremations case in Punjab. […]

Two police officers sentenced for disappearance

March 1, 2005 | Comments Off on Two police officers sentenced for disappearance

On February 26,a court in Patiala sentenced two police officers to three years in prison for causing the 1994 disappearance of Sukhpal Singh Palli, a journalist for Aj Di Awaz. The two sentenced officers are ASI Massa Singh and Havaldar Baljit Singh. Palli was reporting for the Punjabi daily from Moonak at the time. Fifteen days […]