Key witness against Jagdish Tytler, detained at Delhi Airport- Passport seized

San Francisco, March 03, 2009
Gurjit Singh

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, a US based Human Rights Organisation has denounced the illegal detention and harrassment of Giani Surinder Singh, who is the prime witness against Member Parliament Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 Sikh Programs. According to Mr. Pannun, apprehending that the C.B.I. might file a closure report in the case against Jagdish Tytler, Gaini Surinder has gone to India to record his statement at the Kadkad duma Court on 28th february.

It is pertinent to mention here that in November 1984 Giani Surinder Singh was in Pul Bangash Gurdawara from where he witnessed Jagdish Tytler ordering the killings of Sikhs. As a result of instigation and orders of Jagdish Tytler three Sikhs namely Bhai Badal Singh raagi of the Gurdawara, Thakur Singh retired police inspector and Amarjit Singh Bedi’s servant were killed. On the instigation of Jagdish Tytler, Gurdawar Pul Bangash was also set on fire and 36 copies of Guru Garanth Sahib were burnt down.

Giani Surinder singh said he was inspired by the spirit of Gurcharan Singh Rishi who remained bed ridden for 25 long years after being thrown into a burning truck during the 84’ sikh genocide. Rishi died on the 17th of feb not before he has recorded his statement against Sajjan Kumar, another Parliamentarian accused of participating the genocide of sikhs. Giani Surinder Singh said he wanted to ensure that he record his statement against Jagdish Tytler before his age and ailing health catch up with him. Giani Surinder Singh said he is afraid he does not leave this world before he has seen Jagdish Tyltler and other accused of the genocide of sikhs punished for what they put their sikh victims thru.

Giani Surinder Singh alleged that on upon his arrival at the Indra gandhi Airport, on February 23, 2009, he was illigally detained by the authorties . He was detained at the airport for hours and was continousally questioned and harassed by the detaining officers. His passport was then confiscated. When He asked as to why his passport was being confiscated, He was told that he has misused his Indian Passport by travelling abroad and speaking against the interest of Indian Government while travelling on its passport. he was also forced to sign some papers. He was warned not to open his mouth and cautioned when he was finally released from the Airport.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, a us based human rights organisation said the shabby treatment meted out to prime witness by the authorties of the so called largest democracy of the world has once again demonstrated that whenever some one musters the courage to testify against the guilty, their voice is muffled either by coersion or by acts like this. Mr. Pannun wondered how can all this go on un noticed and the world community does not utter a word. Sikhs for Justice who is spearheading the campaign for justice to the victims of the 1984 sikh genocide, Mr. Pannun said would highlight the plight of all such victims of government excesses at all platforms of the world.

Karnail Singh Peermohammed , President of AIl India Sikh Students Federation has assailed the authorties for illeglal detention and harrassment o fGiani Surinder Singh, the prime witness against Jagdish Tytler, member of the Indian Parliament. He suspected that Jagdish Tytler is directly involved in the whole episode and that Giani Surinder Singh, who has come all the way from America to record his statement in the Kurkoduma court was detained and harrassed at the behest of Jagdish Tytler. from . He demanded a C.B.I. probe into the whole matter. Mr. Peermohammed said he is soon going to file a petition in the highest court of the country to probe this matter and put the officals involved be suspended with immediate affect.