MARTYRDOM FOR FAITH
CHAURR SIDHWAN, PUNJAB (KP) - A sea of mourners paid tribute to the Sikh Nation’s latest martyr Shaheed Bhai Jaspal Singh of village Sidhwan, Gurdaspur as the antim-sanskar (final rites) were performed in his native village.
Bhai Jaspal Singh was killed by the Punjab Police while reciting naam-simran, when he and his associates were ruthlessly attacked by the officers under the directions of Shiv-Sena fanatics.
Sardar Gurcharnjit Singh, the father of the Shaheed along with his brother Prabhdayal Singh lit the funeral pyre in the presence of thousands of sangat members, the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and representatives of various Panthic organizations under the emotional yet resounding sounds of war-cry jaikaaras.
Taking heed from the victim family’s forewarning that no Akali Government or Punjab Police official should attend the last rites of the Shaheed, not a single Akali representative or Police official was present at the scene.
District Commissioner Runs for His Life
Due to the tense situation, and fearing possible reprisals, the local police kept at a measurable distance of 1 km from the scene, even after they were alerted that Gurdaspur District Commissioner (DC), Mohinder Singh Kainth was being chased by the Sikh youth upon his arrival to the victim’s residence. According to press reports, Kainth had to run for safety and lock himself into a room until the situation was brought under control.
In hopes of quelling public uproar, the Punjab Government later dismissed both Kainth as the Gurdaspur DC and the Senior Superintendent of the Police (SSP), Varinderpal Singh from their positions.
Unprovoked Attack on Sikhs
The family members of Saheed Jaspal Singh told the gathered Sangat that they were proud of his sacrifice, but reiterated that he had done nothing wrong when he was attacked by the Police. Bhai Jaspal Singh and others were reciting naam-simran outside the local Gurdwara Sahib when suddenly the local police turned on them and charged them using batons, tear-gas, and live ammunition.
According to eye-witnesses, the police seemed to have been directed by members of the Hindu militant Shiv-Sena, who a day earlier had removed a Dastar from a Sikh youth and publicly burnt and trampled it while shouting slogans against the Sikh community.
View Video of the hunt for Sikh Youths by Shiv-Sena members and the Punjab Police:
