The Dal Khalsa has questioned the claims made by DGP Sumedh Singh Saini linking the arrest of senior SAD Panch Pardhani leader Daljit Singh Bittu with so-called revival of terrorism in Punjab, and termed it bluff and untrue.
Party head HS Dhami said the detention of Daljit Singh time and again was clearly on the ground that state's political as well as police leadership has grudges against the former militant because of his past (militant) actions. "Those who are at helm of affairs at political as well as police level be it in state or centre, don't want to see former militants joining and giving politics a try to further their cause."
He condemned the police force for humiliating and inflicting torture on Daljit and his colleague SGPC member Kulbir Singh Barapind during investigation. He asked the DGP to be sensitive and fair and stop witch-hunting. He said the DGP was raising the bogey of terrorism only to "cover-up" the failures of his department in maintaining the rule of law in the state.
Detesting another claim by the DGP that marches organised by radical groups in the month of March-April were aimed at disturbing peace of the state, he said cutting across party lines, youth hit the streets to save Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows at the call of Jathedar, Akal Takht and Panthic groups.
{{/usCountry}}Detesting another claim by the DGP that marches organised by radical groups in the month of March-April were aimed at disturbing peace of the state, he said cutting across party lines, youth hit the streets to save Balwant Singh Rajoana from gallows at the call of Jathedar, Akal Takht and Panthic groups.
{{/usCountry}}He said the DGP has reiterated that during militancy period 1,784 cops had lost their lives, which was unfortunate because many were targeted just because they were wearing uniform. However, Dhami wondered why the DGP had not revealed how many citizens- that included sympathizers of movement, relatives of militants, human rights activists, lawyers, and ordinary men and women unconnected with the movement lost their lives at the hands of Punjab cops during those 10 years. The DGP must also tell the numbers of slain militants that were killed by security forces in real and stage-managed encounters.