May 2013 Archive

Attack on an elderly Sikh: Hate crime charges added in Fresno case

Washington, United States (May 31, 2013): As per media reports a Fresno man accused of attempted murder is now facing charges of committing a hate crime. Gilbert Garcia (24) is accused of beating an elderly Sikh man Piara Singh (81) with an iron rod, nearly killing him.

India: Terrorism charges dropped against Kiwi Sikh leader Manpreet Singh

New Delhi, India (May 31, 2013): According to media reports a New Zealand Sikh community who was framed under charges of “terrorism” in India has been released. According to 'The New Zealand Herald', [t]he Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said on May 30, 2013 that it had been informed the case against Manpreet Singh had been dismissed.

Indian High Court judge rescues himself from hearing Jagdish Tytler case

New Delhi, India (May 31, 2013): It is learnt that A Judge of Delhi High Court on May 31, 2013 rescued himself from hearing a plea of Indian politician and Congress leader Jagdish Tytler challenging a lower court order by which the CBI was asked to further investigate his role in a case related to November 1984 violence against the Sikhs. This case relates to the brutal killings of three innocent Sikhs.

Jagdish Tytler moved Delhi high court against reopening of investigation in Nov. 1984 related case

New Delhi, India (May 31, 2013): It is learnt that an Indian politician Jagdish Tytler has moved the Delhi high court against the trial court's decision to reopen investigation against him in a November 1984 Sikh massacre related case against him. This case relates to the brutal killings of three innocent Sikhs.

India: Maoist attack puts civilians at risk of further violence – Amnesty International

New Delhi, India (May 30, 2013): The killing of 24 people, including three senior politicians and eight police personnel, in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh on 25 May could further escalate violence in the state, putting more civilians - including local Adivasi (Indigenous) communities - at risk, Amnesty International has warned.

Accused who attacked 81-years-old Sikh pleads not guilty in US court

Washington, United States (May 30, 2013): It is learnt that the accused of brutally attacking an 81-year-old Sikh, Bapu Piara Singh, outside a Gurdwara Sahib in the United States on May 5, 2013 has pleaded 'not guilty' of attempted murder and elderly abuse.

Sikh Genocide 1984 Case – No reprieve to Congress (I) from US Court

New York (May 30, 2013): Judge Robert W. Sweet in a pre-trial conference granted “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ) till September to amend the human rights violation complaint against Congress party to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. In Kiobel case, Supreme Court held that foreign entities can be liable in US Court for atrocities committed overseas only under the limited circumstances.

Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons want foreign countries to blacklist over 500 Indian security personnel

Kashmir/India (May 30, 2013): Expecting international support against systematic and widespread human rights abuses in Kashmir, a human rights body has reportedly approached a number of foreign countries to blacklist at least 500 security personnel involved in human rights abuses in the state.

World Sikh Organization to host annual human rights events in June

Ottawa, Canada (May 29, 2013): It is learnt that the World Sikh Organization of Canada will be hosting human rights events across Canada in the month of June, including their annual Parliamentary Dinner in Ottawa on Monday June 3rd in Ottawa. This year’s keynote speaker will be leading Punjab human rights activist Rajvinder S. Bains.

AISSF and Sikhs for Justice has appealed Sikhs to sign 1984 genocide petition

Amritsar, Punjab (May 29, 2013): All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) have appealed Sikhs across the globe to sign November 1984 Sikh genocide petition.

Massive fire broke out in Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital Delhi; 15 fire tenders rushed to spot

Delhi, India (May 29, 2013): According to certain media reports a massive fire broke out in Guru Teg Bahadur Hosptial in Delhi on May 29, 2013. As per inforamtion the fire broke out around 11 am in a air condition unit.

Sikh Jatha gets 15 days visa to Pakistan to observe martyrdom day

Lahore, Pakistan (May 28, 2013):As per media reports the Government of Pakistan has decided to issue a 15 day pilgrim visa to the Sikh sangat visiting Gurudwara Dera Sahib in Lahore from East Punjab. A special train carrying 1,000 Jatha members would leave East Punjab for Pakistani Punjab on 4 June and stay until 18 June.

Custodial torture victim seeks enhancement of compensation

Chandigarh/Punjab (May 28, 2013): According to media reports a Sikh resident of Amritsar Sarabjit Singh (43), who was subjected to torture in custody by Punjab police won a decade and-a-half-long legal battle on January 15, 2013 when a district court slapped Rs 10-lakh damages on the Punjab government. But Sarabjit Singh, who was branded by police a ‘terrorist’, is now fighting legal battle to get the compensation money enhanced to Rs 50 lakh.

Exert pressure on Indian government to relive Prof Bhullar from the death penalty: Sikh body to EU

We seek the active intervention of the European Union in exerting diplomatic pressure on Indian Government and raising humanitarian concerns to stop the execution of death sentence of Prof. Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who is on death row and whose sentence has been confirmed by the Supreme Court of India in April despite original conviction based on confession before police, no corroboration of evidence of any kind, split judgment of the Supreme Court in upholding the sentence of capital punishment, inordinate delay in carrying out the sentence as well as ignoring the mental status of the accused.

Dal Khalsa seeks EU intervention on suspected execution of Prof. Bhullar

Amritsar, Punjab (May 26, 2013): As per information Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has sent a memorandum to the European Union for intervention in the case of Sikh political prisoner Prof. Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, who faces threat of immediate execution in India.

Sikh Forum to hold Lecture meeting in Delhi on June 1st to pay homage to martyrs of June 1984

New Delhi, India (May 26, 2013): It is learnt that in remembrance of the 29th anniversary of June 1984 attack on various Sikh Gurdwaras in Punjab and adjoining states the Sikh Forum is going to hold a lecture meeting to pay homage to the martyrs of June 1984.

Sikhs for Justice v. Congress (I) – US Court order for pretrial hearing on May 29

New York, United States (May 25, 2013): A Federal Court in Manhattan will hear 1984 Sikh Genocide case against Congress (I) on May 29. Pursuant to Sikh rights group’s request for jurisdictional discovery to unveil the relationship of Congress Party of India and that of America, Judge Robert W. Sweet ordered the hearing to resolve the outstanding discovery issues and to set a time for the trial.

Sultanpuri Massacre 1984: Delhi High court reserves decision on plea of Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi, India (May 25, 2013): It is learnt that the Delhi High Court on May 24, 2013 reserved its verdict on Indian politician Sajjan Kumar's plea challenging a trial court's order to frame charges against him in Sultanpuri Massacre case 1984. Sultanpuri Massacre was part of wider plan of Sikh genocide 1984, and the case against Sajjan Kumar relates to the killing of six people in Sultanpuri area in Delhi.

Seminar on “Gur Bilas Patshahi Chheveen” held at Nishan-E-Sikhi, Khadur Sahib

Khadur Sahib, Punjab (May 25, 2013): Sri Guru Angad Dev institute of religious studies at Nishan-E-Sikhi run under the patronage of Baba Sewa Singh Kaar Sewa Wale, organized a seminar on importance of “Gur Bilas Patshahi Chheveen”, a historical Sikh scripture consists of detailed pen portrait and teachings of sixth Guru of the Sikhs Guru Hargobind Sahib ji in form of epic, in which a renowned Sikh scholar Dr. Amarjit Singh, Principal of Guru Kashi Institute of Sikh studies Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda), arrived as main speaker.

India: Custodial torture is wide spread – Four undertrials die in police custody every day

New Delhi, India (May 25, 2013): In it's recent issue "Tehelka", an investigative weekly, has noted that: "[f]our undertrials die in police custody every day in India — a disturbing number for one of the oldest judicial systems in the world. Between 2001 and 2010 the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) registered 14,231 custodial deaths.

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