The demand to give benefits to Punjab policemen guilty of fake encounters is unfair: Akal Takht Jathedar
Punjab: Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj today said that the demand of Punjab Police Welfare Association to grant pension benefits to policemen convicted in fake encounters is unjustified. Reacting to a report published in these columns, he questioned the comparison of police officers convicted in fake encounters by a CBI court with Sikh prisoners languishing in jails for decades. Jathedar Gargaj said that Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, whom the association had approached for the benefit, should note that the aggrieved families of Sikh youths had to fight a long legal battle for three decades to convict police officers. He said that during this time the convicts were given promotions and facilities and now the government was looking for excuses to benefit them. He urged the Governor to take a decision in accordance with the sentiments of Punjabis, especially Sikhs.
He said that the captive Singhs have been released as per the law and after three decades. However, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Gurdeep Singh Khera, Prof. Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Jagtar Singh Tara and Paramjit Singh Bhiora are still under house arrest, which is a grave violation of human rights. He said that if the convicted police officers are released prematurely, it would be injustice to the aggrieved families of the Sikh youths. He said that the Punjab government should ensure that they serve the full sentence awarded by the CBI court. Jathedar Gargaj said that the Punjab government talks of protecting the Constitution but does not follow it and has no intention of providing justice to the Sikhs. He further said that any move by the government to help in the early release of the convicted police officers would be a gross insult to the CBI court and the Constitution.
