ਧਰਨਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਖਿਲਾਫ਼ - ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਕਰਨਗੀਆਂ ਰੋਸ ਕਨਵੈਨਸ਼ਨ

ਧਰਨਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਖਿਲਾਫ਼
ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਕਰਨਗੀਆਂ ਰੋਸ ਕਨਵੈਨਸ਼ਨ

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਜਮਹੂਰੀ ਹੱਕ ਨੂੰ ਕੁਚਲਣ ਅਤੇ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ 'ਚ ਧਰਨੇ ਮੁਜ਼ਾਹਰੇ ਕਰਨ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਬੰਦੀ ਮੜ੍ਹਨ ਦੇ ਕਦਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਬਠਿੰਡੇ ਜ਼ਿਲੇ   'ਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੀਆਂ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਜਨਤਕ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਰਲ ਕੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਰੋਸ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਉਣ ਲਈ 27 ਮਾਰਚ ਨੂੰ ਟੀਚਰਜ਼ ਹੋਮ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਵਿਖੇ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਰੋਸ ਕਨਵੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਆਨ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਭਾ ਦੇ ਸੂਬਾ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਪਾਵੇਲ ਕੁੱਸਾ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਅੱਜ ਟੀਚਰਜ਼ ਹੋਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਈ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਇਹ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਜ਼ਿਲੇ ਭਰ ਅੰਦਰ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੀਆਂ ਦਰਜਨ ਦੇ ਕਰੀਬ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਨੁਮਾਇੰਦਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਮੂਲੀਅਤ ਕੀਤੀ। ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਜੁੜੇ ਸਭਨਾਂ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਜਾਬਰ ਕਦਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਮਹੂਰੀ ਹੱਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕੁਚਲਣਾ ਕਰਾਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਹੱਕੀ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਲਈ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਜਮਹੂਰੀ ਹੱਕ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਲੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਲੋਕ ਲਾਮਬੰਦੀ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।

ਸਭਨਾਂ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਹੱਕੀ ਤੇ ਵਾਜਬ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਣਨ ਤੇ ਹੱਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਹੱਕੀ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਦਬਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਰਾਹ ਫੜਿ•ਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਝੂਠੇ ਕੇਸ ਮੜ੍ਹ ਕੇ ਜੇਲਾਂ 'ਚ ਸੁੱਟ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਹੁਤੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਉਹ ਹਨ ਜਿਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੀ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਦੋਲਨ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਦਮਨਕਾਰੀ ਵਤੀਰਾ ਅਖ਼ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਥੱਲੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਲੋਕ-ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਨਵੀਆਂ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਨੀਤੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸਭਨਾਂ ਮਿਹਨਤਕਸ਼ ਵਰਗਾਂ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਦੁੱਭਰ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਆਏ ਦਿਨ ਵਧ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਲ ਲਈ ਲੋਕ ਸਮੂਹ ਜਥੇਬੰਦ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਰਾਹ ਪੈ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਮੰਗਾਂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਲਈ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ਾਂ ਦਾ ਝੰਡਾ ਚੁੱਕ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਰਾਜ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੇਵਾ ਦੇ ਦਾਅਵੇ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ-ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਇਹ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਸੁਣਨ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਤਿਆਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਲਈ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ 'ਚ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਂਤਮਈ ਧਰਨੇ ਮੁਜ਼ਾਹਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਬਰਦਾਸ਼ਤ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਇਹਨਾਂ ਫੁਰਮਾਨਾਂ ਤਹਿਤ ਹੀ ਹੁਣ ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਵੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਹ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰਾਂ ਖੋਹਣ ਦੇ ਰਾਹ ਤੁਰ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ। ਮਿੰਨੀ ਸਕੱਤਰੇਤ ਦੇ ਇਲਾਕੇ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰਾਂ ਸੀਲ ਕਰਨ ਤੇ ਧਰਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਬਠਿੰਡੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਤੋਂ ਪੰਜ ਕਿਲੋਮੀਟਰ ਦੂਰ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਭਾਵ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਹੱਕੀ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਕੁਚਲਣ ਦਾ ਖੁੱਲਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਹੈ। ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਾਂਤਮਈ ਰੋਸ ਧਰਨਾ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਤੋਂ ਜਬਰੀ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਗਿਆ, ਫਿਰ ਦੋ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਸਾਖਰ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਟੈਂਟ ਉਖਾੜ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਹੁਣ ਹੋਰ ਅਗਾਂਹ ਜਾਂਦਿਆਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਸਕੱਤਰੇਤ ਮੂਹਰੇ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਮੱਸਿਆ ਦੱਸਣ ਦਾ ਹਰ ਹੱਕ ਖੋਹ ਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ਸ਼ੀਲ ਲੋਕ ਬਰਦਾਸ਼ਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਲ ਲਈ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਜਮਹੂਰੀ ਹੱਕ ਖੁੱਸਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਇਹ ਹੱਕ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ ਹਾਸਲ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਰਾਖੀ ਵੀ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਹੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।

ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਂਝਾ ਵਫ਼ਦ 19 ਮਾਰਚ ਨੂੰ ਡੀ. ਸੀ . ਬਠਿੰਡਾ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ ਤੇ ਇਹ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਫੌਰੀ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਕਰੇਗਾ। ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਜ਼ਿਲੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੀਆਂ ਸਭਨਾਂ ਲੋਕ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਜਮਹੂਰੀ ਸ਼ਖਸ਼ੀਅਤਾਂ/ ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਜਾਬਰ ਕਦਮਾਂ ਖਿਲਾਫ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਬੁਲੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਤੇ ਰੋਸ ਕਨਵੈਨਸ਼ਨ 'ਚ ਸ਼ਮੂਲੀਅਤ ਕਰਨ।

ਇਸ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ 'ਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਖੇਤ ਮਜ਼ਦੂਰ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਸੇਵਕ ਸਿੰਘ, ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਭਾ ਦੇ ਪਾਵੇਲ ਕੁੱਸਾ, ਟੈਕਨੀਕਲ ਸਰਵਿਸਜ਼ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਸਤਵਿੰਦਰ ਸੋਨੀ, ਡੈਮੋਕਰੈਟਿਕ ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਫਰੰਟ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਜਸਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਟੀ. ਈ. ਟੀ. ਪਾਸ ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਅਮਨਦੀਪ ਫੂਲ, SSA/ RMSA /CSS ਟੀਚਰਜ਼ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਹਰਜੀਤ ਜੀਦਾ, ਈ. ਟੀ. ਟੀ. ਟੀਚਰਜ਼ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਸਿੰਘ, B.Ed ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਫਰੰਟ ਦੇ ਦਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, 7654 ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਫਰੰਟ ਦੇ ਪਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਲੋਕ ਮੋਰਚਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਟੂਡੈਂਟਸ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ (ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਰੰਧਾਵਾ) ਦੇ ਸਬਜੀਤ ਮੌੜ, ਐਸ. ਟੀ. ਆਰ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਕਾਲਾ ਸਿੰਘ, ਈ. ਜੀ. ਐਸ. (ਈ. ਟੀ. ਟੀ.) ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਰਾਜਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਦਿ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਸਨ।
 
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ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਭਾਰਤ ਸਭਾ
ਪਾਵੇਲ ਕੁੱਸਾ (94170-54015)

PEOPLE VALIANTLY FIGHT BLACK LAWS IN PUNJAB

PUNJAB GOVT ATTEMPTS TO CRUSH DISSENT & PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES THROUGH DRACONIAN LAWS

PEOPLE COME OUT IN STREETS TO OPPOSE

In the last Assembly session, Punjab Govt got passed four anti-people black-laws, to put shackles, on the struggling and rationally thinking people. The Punjab (Prevention of Damage to Public & Private Property) Act – 2010, puts a complete ban on the protest demonstrations, marches, rallies etc, as it ordains that nothing like that shall be permitted to be done without prior permission from the District Magistrate or Police Commissioner, which is most unlikely to come. Even where the permission is granted, the organizers shall have to give an undertaking to the concerned SHO, the route and slogans shall be approved by the police, lathis-even for carrying the flags shall be forbidden. The police will be authorized not only to get the rallies, demonstrations etc video-graphed, but will also have the power to get photographs, video-graphs etc from press-persons, which shall be used as un-rebuttable evidence against the protesters in the courts. Any one organizing protest activity without permission shall get two-year jail term plus fine. If the police complains of a damage to any public or private property by the protesters, in the course of such activity, the protesters shall get five year jail term plus Rs.20,000/- fine. If such a damage is alleged to have been caused by fire or explosive substance, the jail term shall be seven years plus a fine of Rs. 70000/-. An administrative office shall be appointed as a competent authority to assess the damage and the organizers of protest activity shall be liable to pay it. If they refuse to pay, the amount shall be recovered by auctioning their properties. All the offenses under this Act shall be non-bailable and cognizable by any Head Constable of the police. The onus to prove that they have not caused any damage to public or private property shall be upon the protesters, in view of the video-graphic evidence produced by the police.

Through the Punjab Special Protection Group Act-2010, the state is going to constitute an elite armed force, armed with ultra-modern weapons, gadgets and advanced training, for "combating anti-national forces" and for "providing proximate security to highly threatened persons and their families" to be so declared by the State Govt. The Act describes any person or organization which violates the law as “anti-national”. If one smokes in public or violates any traffic law, he is “anti-national” under this Act and the Special Protection Group shall have the power to proceed against him. Like the Armed Forces Special Power Act, the members of Special Protection Group have been given complete immunity from any civil, criminal or other legal proceedings for the acts done by them in the course of their duty. The State Govt, through a notification shall authorize the extent to which the Special Protection Group can use force in dealing with so called “anti-national” forces or persons. It can be shoot at sight also. As the “highly threatened person” requiring proximate security for himself and his family members is to be designated by the State Govt, it can provide such security to any person who is target of people’s ire or a mass agitation. Reading this Act in conjunction with the provisions of the Punjab (Prevention of Damage to Public & Private Property ) Act-2010, leaves no doubt that this Act is primarily aimed at crushing the people’s struggle through armed forces of the State, operating under complete immunity from any legal action.

Punjab Govt passed two more laws amending S.153-A & 295-A of the Indian Penal Code and some provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, through which the said offenses have been made non-bailable, triable by Sessions Court and the sentence has been enhanced from 3 years to 10 years. The Court has been bound to award a minimum of 3 years sentence in all cases of convictions under these sections. S.295-A deals with offenses against religion, or is a law against blasphemy. If any one complains that you have injured his religious feelings or insulted his religion, you shall be charged under S.295-A. No anticipatory bail is to be allowed. In Pakistan Penal Code, they have introduced S. 295-C, under which death sentence has been provided for insulting Prophet Mohamed. Akali-BJP Govt has increased the punishment for blasphemy from 2 years imprisonment to 10 years. Next time, they may enhance it to death sentence. The blasphemy law is usually used by the Akali-BJP Govt to black-mail its adversaries and rationalist intellectuals. A few months ago dramatist Kirti Kirpal and his entire team was booked under S.295 by Bathinda Police on a complaint by a VHP activist. Sh. Megh Raj Mittar, of Tarksheel Society is also facing a threat to be implicated under this law for having written a scientific article on Cow’s Urine. These laws are also used or misused by the political parties in power to secure their vote-banks.

It is highly shameful for the democratic values to which our politicians so fondly swear that such draconian laws were passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly within a few minutes, without any discussion. The Congress made a verbal protest but walked out to facilitate passage of these bills. No political party worth the name launched any protest against these Acts.

However the Democratic Front Against Operation Green Hunt, Punjab, held conventions at various places, such as Amritsar, Moga, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Talwandi Salem, and Sirsa. Mass organizations at Barnala also held a convention against these black laws. I.D.P. and the Inqlabi Kender Punjab, brought out pamphlets against these laws, describing in detail their fatal implications for the struggling people.

34 mass organizations of Punjab, including various farmers and agricultural labor organizations, trade unions etc, came out against these black laws and gave a call of mass-dharnas at all District Headquarters in Punjab on 20.1.2011. As per initial reports, these dharnas elicited good response. At Ludhiana industrial workers came out in good numbers.

It is encouraging that a good beginning has been made to mobilize protest against these anti-people black laws. However more is required to be done. The mass-organizations in Punjab are capable of launching a mass movement to seek withdrawal of these laws.

We have already published the photographs of the mass protest action received from Moga, Bathinda, Sri Mukatsar Sahib & Ludhiana.

In Punjab
POLICE ONSLAUGHT RESISTED THROUGH DEMOCRATIC MOBILIZATION

Now-a-days, the Punjab Police is too much pre-occupied with Naxalite-phobia. Some months ago the DGP himself came out with an extremely irresponsible statement, branding the 17 mass organizations of farmers and agri-labour as front organizations of the Naxalites/Maoists, because they have been consistently fighting against the anti-people and anti-national policies of the rulers. The police arrested Surjit Singh Phul, President of Bharti Kisan Union Krantikari, subjected him to severe torture at the Joint Interrogation Center Amritsar and slapped on him a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. During the agitation against PSEB unbundling, Dr. Darshan Pal of the Revolutionary Democratic Front, was illegally detained and interrogated by the police. In May 2010, a poster jointly brought out by various communist revolutionary parties appeared in the state. Thereafter many activists of Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. One of them, Dilbag Singh from Zira has been even charged under S.121-A IPC (attempting to wage war against the State), which attracts a punishment of life imprisonment, despite there being absolutely no such evidence against him. It goes to the credit of democratic revolutionary movement in Punjab that it has massively resisted all these attempts by mobilizing various sections of the people. A large number of prominent intellectuals of Punjab under the leadership of noted peoples’ dramatist Gursharan Singh formed a ‘Democratic Front Against Operation Green Hunt’ and held state-wide conventions in 15 main cities and 20 villages/towns, which were addressed by Sh. Himanshu Kumar, Gandhian Social Worker from Dantewara. The state police kept close surveillance on these conventions, and attempted to video record the proceedings by smuggling their agents under the garb of fictitious press/TV reporters. They even attempted to video photograph all the audiences. When the organizers objected to it a case under Section 384 (dacoity), 506 (intimidation), 148, 149 IPC (rioting armed with deadly weapons) was got registered at Giddarbaha Distt Mukatsar against members of the Democratic Front and Sh. Himanshu Kumar.

In continuation with this, on 28.7.2010, at about 07.00 PM Daljit Singh, aged about 60 years resident of Hazura Kapura Basti Bathinda was abducted from his house by 15/20 armed policemen in plain clothes, posing as members of a power theft checking team. His wife Sunder Pal Kaur, who is employed as Senior Telephone Supervisor in BSNL at Bathinda raised hue and cry and a large number of neighbourers assembled. On being asked the plain-clothes men refused to divulge their identity but some people in the crowd recognized them to be from CIA Police Station Bathinda. They refused to tell under which FIR or offence Daljit Singh was being arrested or where he is to be kept and when he shall be produced in court. When contacted, the SSP Bathinda expressed total ignorance about the incident. The people apprehended that the armed abductors, who were in fact policemen in mufti, might cause physical harm to Daljit Singh or implicate him in some false criminal case. Advocate N.K.Jeet, President Lok Morcha Punjab, Advocate Balwant Singh Dhillon, President Lawyers For Justice & Democratic Rights, and Gurdeep Singh, Editor AJ DI AWAZ, a Punjabi Daily, immediately brought this incident in the notice of press, Human Rights Commission, Punjab & Haryana High Court, DGP Punjab, Chief Secretary Govt of Punjab & other authorities. They contacted the SHO Police Station CIA Staff Bathinda, who admitted, having taken Daljit Singh in custody and demanded his identity proof. A large number of people along with the Corporator of the area went to the police station. The police, in order to scare away the people alleged that the said Daljit Singh is in fact Jagdish Kumar, a Naxalite leader, who has been underground since 1992, and is inciting the people in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh etc to join the Naxalite movement. They further alleged that he has assumed a false name to conceal his real identity. The people asked the police officials, to disclose the offence and FIR under which he has been arrested. The police did not have any reply. When the people expressed their apprehension that Daljit Singh might be implicated in some false criminal case or physically liquidated, the police agreed to record his formal arrest, but said that the offences under which he was to charged were yet to be determined and shall be added afterwards in consultation with the I.G.of Police.

The police afterwards registered a case FIR No. 35 dated 28.7.2010 at Police Station Thermal Bathinda against him under section 420 (Cheating), 467, 468, 471 of the IPC, on the allegation that he changed his name from Jagdish Kumar to Daljit Singh and got prepared Ration Card & other documents in the said name. However the police failed to provide any information as to whom he has cheated and in which manner. On 29.7.2010, the police presented him in the court of Sh. K.K.Singla JMIC Bathinda and sought his police remand for 10 days for affecting recoveries of the documents such as Ration Card etc. The Ration Card was immediately placed on record of the court. Thereafter no ground was left for seeking police remand. Then the police came out with another story. They claimed that Daljit Singh is a Naxalite leader and a special team of the Intelligence Bureau has arrived from Chandigarh to interrogate him and as such he should be sent to police custody. The court after hearing the arguments granted police remand for one day, with the rider that the while interrogating, the police should bear in mind that the accused is an arthritis & heart patient and he should be provided with medical care and necessary medicines. In police remand, Daljit Singh was subjected to lengthy and strenuous interrogation by the officials of the I.B., Intelligence Wing of the Punjab Police and various other agencies.
In order to cause a scare amongst the people, the police resorted to spreading lies and disinformation. In a press note issued by the District police, Daljit Singh was described as a top Naxalite leader of CPRCPI (ML) who has taken command of the organization after the death of Com. Harbhajan Singh Sohi. He was further accused of having remained underground for the last 40 years under an assumed name and inciting various organizations of farmers, agri-labour, and employees etc to resort to agitations against the Govt policies and indulge in violence. Despite this, hundreds of people including a large number of women came to the court to express moral support and solidarity with Daljit Singh when on 30.7.2010; he was again produced in the court. Earlier residents of Hazura Kapura Basti held rallies to condemn his illegal arrest and false implication and had decided to stand with and support his family. The ‘Maoist’ and the ‘Naxalite’ tag put on him by the police, did not scare them. Daljit Singh was also in high spirits. He raised slogans such as ‘Inquilab-Zindabad’, ‘Long live the Communist Revolutionary movement’ etc.

On 30.7.2010, the Police sought his police remand for 10 days on the plea that he was to be interrogated by the Intelligence sleuths at Joint Interrogation Center at Amritsar, as he was a Maoist. The police even claimed to have recovered some Maoist literature from him. This plea was vigorously opposed by the defense lawyers stating that the police cannot indulge in a fishing inquiry and shall have to limit its investigation to the accusations made in the FIR. They further pleaded that changing name is not an offence. Moreover he has been using the changed name for the last three decades and it has been duly recorded in the service record of his wife as well as birth and school record of his children. The court refused to remand him in police custody and instead sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

Although under mass pressure, the police attack has been temporarily repulsed, but there is every possibility that Daljit Singh may be falsely implicated in a fresh criminal case or named as an accused in any pending criminal case at Bathinda or at any other place in Punjab or in any other state, to subject him to physical torture. The police is also looking for Jaspal Jassi, Editor of a revolutionary democratic monthly magazine ‘SURAKH REKHA’, currently being published from Bathinda. Their intention is to silence all the pro-people voices of dissent. Therefore democratic minded people shall have to remain vigilant.