Pleasanton, CA (USA): On 30 October 2023, Ensaaf released its complete dossier on former Punjab police official Samant Kumar Goel, who- according to Ensaaf, bears responsibility for at least 127 disappearances and unlawful killings when he served as SSP during the 1980s and 1990s in Punjab.
As per the its’ mission statement, Ensaaf is a nonprofit organization working to end impunity and achieve justice for crimes against humanity in India, with a special focus on Punjab, by documenting abuses, bringing perpetrators to justice, and organizing survivors”.
“The dossier of Samant Kumar Goel visualizes cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions reportedly committed under his command during his tenure as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in various jurisdictions of Punjab. He not only permitted his subordinates and other security forces to perpetrate violations against residents in his assigned jurisdictions, but he also allowed them to travel extraterritorially to target individuals”, reads a statement released by Ensaaf (copy available with Sikh Siyasat News).
Samant Kumar Goel, Former R&AW Chief whose has at least 127 cases of enforced disappearances against him listed in the records of Ensaaf
“The number of cases presented here (in the dossier) is an undercounting of the likely cases perpetrated under his command. These cases draw from Ensaaf’s interviews with family members of the victims and other witnesses, and present the information provided by them. This visualization excludes all cases where complete incident dates or locations were not available. Without this information, it is difficult to ascertain whether those incidents occurred under Goel’s command. This data also excludes cases of individuals who were arbitrarily detained or tortured by Goel or officials under his command”, the statement reads further.
“Despite his role in perpetrating crimes against humanity, Samant Kumar Goel ended his career as the leader of India’s foreign intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing”, notes Ensaaf.
“We will update the cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions reported under his command, as we receive more information. To a large extent, however, this information and the complete truth rests with the government of India”, Ensaaf’s statement reads further.
Here is a snapshot of Dossier Released by Ensaaf:
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