Another case of Police torture in CIA Staff, Ludhiana has raised a serious question about the role of Punjab police in continuing human rights violations of innocent citizens.

Randhir Singh, son of Bhan Singh, aged 22 years is a resident of H.No.2011, Street No.3, Abdullapur Market, Ludhiana. He is an under graduate with diploma in Computer sciences. His father is a daily wage mason. The family is a middle class family with no extra money to indulge in expensive litigation. The family had a civil litigation with an industrialist named Kishan Singh who is also the President of a Local Gurdwara and maintains good relations with senior political leaders of the ruling party in Punjab. A civil court had given a stay order in favour of the family of Randhir Singh way back in 1983 restraining the parties not to dispossess them from their land.

With a view to pressurize the family for handing over their industrial property to Kishan Singh, he got Bhan Singh implicated in a false case of attempt to murder in Police Post Bus Stand, Ludhiana in 1999. Bhan Singh was later acquitted of all the charges by the court. After his acquittal, he filed a civil case in a court against the Punjab State and Kishan Singh and others which is still pending.

In order to settle his score, Bhan Singh was again abducted by Chain Singh, Station House Officer of P.S. Model Town, Ludhiana on 10th December, 2000 at the behest of Kishan Singh. He was subjected to inhuman third degree treatment and threats to life of his family members if he failed to hand over the disputed property to Kishan Singh. His son Randhir Singh, knocked at the doors of Punjab & Haryana High Court and a Warrant Officer was appointed by Punjab & Haryana High Court which found Bhan Singh in the illegal custody of Police officer. He secured the release of the detainee. The Habeas corpus petition in that connection is still pending in the High Court.

Few days later in January, 2001, Kishan Singh using his political connection with one local leader Amarjit Singh Bhatia, President of Akali Dal (Badal) got Randhir Singh implicated in a false case under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act through Inspector Narinder Bedi, Station House Officer of Police Station CIA Staff, Ludhiana. He was picked up from his house on 6th January, 2001 and taken to CIA Staff, Ludhiana. No information was given to him or his family member about the offence he was allegedly accused of. No Complaint or F.I.R. was registered against him at that time. In the CIA staff, he was made nude and subjected to inhuman third degree torture. His hands were tied at his back with a piece of cloth and with the help of a rope, he was lifted upside putting all pressure of the body on his tied hands. His legs were stretched apart at 180 degree and given good beating. He was repeatedly asked to withdraw his petition in the High Court regarding the abduction of his father and also to stop all legal battles against Kishan Singh. On his refusal to do so, he was threatened of being falsely implicated in a case for possessing narcotic drugs. He was also forced to name his father in the offence of drug peddling which he refused to do. After subjecting him to inhuman torture, he was at last booked in the false case under NDPS Act and produced before the Judicial Magistrate, Ludhiana who remanded him to judicial custody. From the jail, he sent complaints to the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Director-General of Police, Punjab, Punjab State Human Rights Commission and National Human Rights Commission describing the wrong done to him. He was later granted bail by the Court on 25th January, 2001, but due to apprehension of further implication and torture at the hands of the police, his parents did not submit the bail bonds and he remained in judicial custody till 15th March, 2001. During the period of his detention in jail, his parents remained out of their house because Kishan Singh had been threatening them of more harassment if they followed their cases in the High Court against him and the police. On 15th March, 2001, the son of Kishan Singh rang the father of Randhir Singh and threatened him that they will not sit silent and will try to cause more harm to his family. Randhir Singh moved the Punjab & Haryana High Court for adequate protection of his life and liberty from Kishan Singh and policemen. He has been provided two official Personal Security Guards at State expense on the orders of the High Court. But still, his family members have not returned back and are living under constant fear of Police and their opponent Kishan Singh. Interestingly, one local Akali Leader Amarjit Singh Bhatia is repeatedly calling Randhir Singh at his house to withdraw all cases against the Policemen and Kishan Singh as they are close to him failing which Randhir Singh would be further implicated in other false cases. But Randhir Singh has shown exemplary courage and is committed to take the culprits to the court and get them punished.

CONDUCTED BY;-

LAWYERS FOR SOCIAL REFORMS, CHANDIGARH

CHAMBER 119, DISTRICT COURTS, SECTOR 17,CHANDIGARH

(ARUNJEEV SINGH WALIA) GENERAL SECRETARY

23.3.2001