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’84 riot affected families get compensation

July 28, 2006 | Comments Off on ’84 riot affected families get compensation

On July 7th, the Fatehgarh Sahib District administration distributed checks worth Rs 2 lakh to each of the 13 remaining families affected by the 1984 pogroms. The Indian government continues to improperly label the 1984 pogroms as riots, implying violence on both sides. The label of a “riot” not only mischaracterizes the massacre, but it […]

Judicial Impunity: Two cops get ten years jail for torture death…

July 28, 2006 | Comments Off on Judicial Impunity: Two cops get ten years jail for torture death…

On July 5th, Jalandhar District and Sessions Judge Karnail Singh sentenced two members of the Punjab Police to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” for torturing a Dalit man, known as Satpal, to death. The officers allegedly kept Satpal in illegal custody at the instance of an unidentified Congress leader. Satpal is survived by his wife, […]

Man alleges police torture; SSP orders inquiry

July 26, 2006 | Comments Off on Man alleges police torture; SSP orders inquiry

Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pawan Kumar Rai ordered an inquiry into the alleged torture of Karaj Singh while in custody at the Kot Isse Khan police station on July 21st.  Police arrested Singh on complaints lodged by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Jarnail Singh and Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) SDO Charanjit Singh Mann. He […]

An Addendum to Madan Lal’s Case

July 16, 2006 | Comments Off on An Addendum to Madan Lal’s Case

Punjabi Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered a magisterial inquiry into Madan Lal’s case on June 30th, following a similar action by Firozpur DC Dr. Arvinder Singh the day before. The 20-year-old Dalit died in police custody on June 28th. Newer evidence showed that Lal died within a half hour of being taken to the police […]

Conflicting stories of crime and torture…

July 16, 2006 | Comments Off on Conflicting stories of crime and torture…

The Jagraon Police “nabbed” Kulbir Singh, Kehar Singh and Harmesh Singh on the evening of June 17th, charging them with arms and narcotics possession. Amar Singh, whom the trio called “a friend,” came under police custody with similar allegations to his name.  The three Sultanpur Lodhi (Kapurthala District) men claimed to be in their fields […]

Mob goes on rampage after custodial death…

July 16, 2006 | Comments Off on Mob goes on rampage after custodial death…

An angry mob vandalized a Firozpur police station on June 28th in reaction to the alleged suicide of 20-year-old Dalit Madan Lal (alias Tinku) while in police custody. The crowd blocked traffic around the station, threw stones at the building and destroyed windows of police vehicles. The police arrested Lal earlier that morning on a […]

Torture victim seeks action against cop

July 13, 2006 | Comments Off on Torture victim seeks action against cop

Cable operator employee Vinod Kumar suffered acute renal failure after officers beat him “for bribe.” Kumar’s afflictions, according to a medical report from PGI, were a direct result of being “thrashed with a rod” in police custody. “Where should I go for justice now? My family made a representation to almost every top government functionary, […]

Three cops suspended for beating up pregnant woman

July 10, 2006 | Comments Off on Three cops suspended for beating up pregnant woman

Over the July 4th weekend in the Amritsar district of Punjab, the Dhariwal police arrested one constable and suspended three others on allegations of abuse inflicted upon a pregnant woman, Simranjit Kaur, and her father-in-law, Tarsem Singh. These individuals were identified as constable Sukhpal Singh, head constable Chanchal Singh, constable Gurdev Singh, and driver Raghubir […]

June 2006 Ensaaf Dispatch

July 8, 2006 | Comments Off on June 2006 Ensaaf Dispatch

Ensaaf has released the June 2006 issue of its quarterly newsletter, the Ensaaf DISPATCH, available at:http://www.ensaaf.org/dispatch-june06.pdf This DISPATCH includes the following articles: * US Extradites Sikh Activist Kulvir Singh Barapind* The Disappearance of Rights Attorney S.S. Bhatti* International Groups Call for the Prosecution of K.P.S. Gill for Murdering J.S. Khalra* UN Human Rights Council Approves […]