Jul
10
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 […]
May
15
The Twelve Year Cover-up: Disappearance of Human Rights Attorney Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti
May 15, 2006 | 2 Comments
On May 12, 1994, Indian security forces abducted Punjab human rights attorney Sukhwinder Singh Bhatti in broad daylight. Over the following weeks, security forces clandestinely detained and tortured Mr. Bhatti. Twelve years after disappearing him, the Indian Government continues to deny justice to Mr. Bhatti’s family. On May 12, 2006, the anniversary of Mr. Bhatti’s […]
May
1
International Human Rights Groups Call for Gill’s Prosecution for Murder of Khalra
May 1, 2006 | Comments Off on International Human Rights Groups Call for Gill’s Prosecution for Murder of Khalra
On May 1, 2006, ENSAAF, Human Rights Watch, REDRESS, and the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice wrote to the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), calling on the CBI to investigate and prosecute former Director General of Police K.P.S. Gill for the murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Over […]
Apr
19
Recent torture by police
April 19, 2006 | Comments Off on Recent torture by police
Ramgarh police officers have been accused of torturing a Dalit, Titu, after framing him in a false case of theft. Residents of Bhaura village, Ludhiana, demanded an investigation into the incident; on April 17, SSP AS Rai ordered an inquiry into the abuse. President of Vishwa Guru Ravidas Mission, Shiv Ram Saroay, and Rashtriya Vikas […]
Mar
28
Law to prevent prosecution for police abuses
March 28, 2006 | 1 Comment
The Punjab government is preparing a proposal for a law to protect police officers and militants who cooperated with them from prosecution. Finance Minister Surinder Singla said on March 21 that Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh would soon announce the procedure to protect officers who used extra-judicial methods in the name of countering terrorism. The […]
Mar
23
Recent case of abuse
March 23, 2006 | Comments Off on Recent case of abuse
A female superintendent reported that she was beaten by a police officer when she opposed copying at the examination center of a government senior secondary school in Amritsar. The Government Teachers’ Union has complained that the Education Department and the police department have not taken any action against the accused police officer. Mr Daljit Singh, […]
Mar
23
Recent Babbar Khalsa arrests
March 23, 2006 | Comments Off on Recent Babbar Khalsa arrests
Police have recently arrested several people allegedly in connection with the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, and at least one of the arrests may be a case of illegal detention. Paramjit Singh Bheora, head of Babbar Khalsa and one of three accused of the assassination of Beant Singh, was arrested on March 19. […]
Mar
17
Petitions filed regarding false tagging of bodies
March 17, 2006 | Comments Off on Petitions filed regarding false tagging of bodies
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi has filed a petition with the High Court to prevent the Punjab government and police from disclosing information about him and others who were falsely declared dead by the police. Director-general of Punjab police SS Virk had recently revealed that during the counter-insurgency, Sukhi and other militants who helped the police were […]
Mar
17
Supreme Court reverses High Court order
March 17, 2006 | Comments Off on Supreme Court reverses High Court order
The Supreme Court has reversed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s earlier decision that Sukhmohinder Singh could be promoted to the Indian Police Service (IPS) even though he was charged in a criminal case. Although Sukhmohinder Singh had retired in 2004, and has also been charged in three disappearance cases from over ten years ago, […]
Mar
2
KPS Gill responds to criticism of false tagging of bodies
March 2, 2006 | Comments Off on KPS Gill responds to criticism of false tagging of bodies
Since Director-General of Punjab Police SS Virk revealed that police falsely declared dead cooperative militants during the counter-insurgency, he has faced criticism from human rights groups concerned about the identity of the falsely tagged bodies. In response, former Director-General of Punjab Police KPS Gill released a letter to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on February 23. […]