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KAC leaders, workers released from Bathinda jail
WSN Network

BATHINDA: Arrested by the Punjab Police with an aim of thwarting the Sikh community’s expression of rage against the rogue head of Sirsa based dera, six leaders and 18 activists of Khalsa Action Committee spearheading the struggle were released from custody on personal bonds. 

These leaders were among the many arrested by the police at various places across Punjab on February 10 when the KAC was to lead a march  near Salabatpura, a sort of Punjab headquarters of the Sirsa dera’s fraudster baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim, currently named as a key accused in rape and murder cases by the CBI, India’s top sleuthing agency.

Strangely, the man has been provided Z plus security by the Indian establishment while Sikh activists are routinely arrested for protesting against him.

Notwithstanding preemptive arrests and a general atmosphere of fear created by the police, hundreds of activists led by KAC’s Bhai Mohkam Singh had succeeded in reaching Gurdwara Gurusar Mehraj in Bathinda where a temporary stage was setup and leaders aired their anger against the government for banning the march. As they tried to proceed towards the village in the form of a procession, all of them were taken into custody. Later, 14 of the arrested were sent to Bathinda jail while rest of them were let off.

All 24 were released from the Bathinda jail in the afternoon amidst anti-government and anti-dera sloganeering by a large number of KAC supporters and activists gathered outside the jail premises. Kanwarpal Singh, spokesperson of the KAC, condemned the Punjab government for curbing the religious and civil rights of the Sikhs and said the the next course of action against the Sirsa dera head would be announced after the upcoming February 17 meeting of the KAC.

Those released include Mohkam Singh, Kanwarpal Singh, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, Karnail Singh Panjoli, Gurdip SIngh Bathinda and Kamikkar Singh apart from 18 others. Bhai Daljit Singh was earlier released from the Ludhiana jail.

15 February 2008
 

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