Vishav(World) Sikh News - World Sikh Council

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@ Vishav(World) Sikh News @
Volume 2, Number 3, March 1998
Monthly Newsletter of Vishav (World) Sikh Council - USA
A Representative Body of Sikh Institutions of America Under the Patronage of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib
6863 Cloister Road, Toledo, Ohio 43617, USA
E-mail address: vsc-usa@unforgettable.com
Celebrate the 300 th Anniversary of the Khalsa by Joining the Sava Lukh Sikh March
in Washington, DC in April 1999
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US News
Member Institutions
Sikh Missionary Center, Phoenix, AZ
Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA
Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA
Center of Sikh Studies, Santa Anna, CA
Colorado Singh Sabha, Englewood, CO
Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA
Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL
Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS
New England Sikh Study Circle, Boston, MA
Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, Rockville, MD
Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills,
MI
Sikh Research and Educational Center,
Chesterfield, MO
Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC
Garden State Sikh Association, Warren, NJ
Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY
Sikh Cultural & Educational Society of Western
New York, Williamsville, NY
Sikh Forum of Long Island, Long Island, NY
Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White
Plains, NY
Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation,
Dublin, OH
Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH
Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Guru Gobind Singh Society, Bedford, OH
Guru Nanak Foundation of Greater Cleveland,
Richfield, OH
Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA
Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX
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Activities of Tri-State Sikh Cultural Society
The Tri-State Sikh Cultural Society of Monroeville, PA will organize its annual
Sikh Youth Symposium on March 21 at the local Gurdwara Sahib. More
information on the event can be obtained by calling (412)374-9407 or (412) 967-
0961. The local sangat will also participate in the 1998 March of Dimes
WalkAmerica on April 26. For more information on the March of Dimes walk
please call Ashvinder Kaur at (724) 772-4935. An adult discussion group meets
at the Gurdwara Sahib every Sunday morning to discuss issues of interest. The
Gurdwara Sahib also has a library, the contents of which can be accessed on the
Internet web address http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~jw3u/gurdwara.html.
The Tri-State Sikh Cultural Society is a member of VSC-USA.
Interfaith Activities
The Sikh community across the US is reported to have participated in several
interfaith events. The following interfaith activities have recently been reported:
• Dallas based Kindness Foundation organized an interfaith service on
February 8 to kick off the Kindness Week. Each faith representative lighted
a candle representing their faith and read from a sacred text in support of
kindness. The service was followed by an International Celebration of
Cultures and Diversity.
• The 12 th annual Interfaith Brotherhood - Sisterhood Breakfast meeting was
held on February 16 in Teaneck, NJ. Over 600 people attended the event.
The guest of honor challenged his fellow religious leaders in Bergen
County to help bridge the chasms that have split contemporary America.
• The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio organized a public forum on
Affirmative Action and Race Relations on February 22 in Columbus, OH.
The Sikh perspective was presented by Sardar Ravinder Singh of
Westerville, OH.
• The Columbia University Press has released a multimedia CD-ROM titled
“On Common Ground - World Religions in America.” The CD-ROM uses
texts, photos, videos and sounds to introduce many of the religious groups,
including the Sikhs, in the US. The CD-ROM has been compiled by
Professor Diana L. Eck of Harvard University under The Pluralism Project.
The Orange County Register dated 2/14/98 published an article on the CD-
ROM.

US Congressmen Demand
Investigation into Genocide in
Punjab
A bipartisan group of 23 members of
House of Representatives of the US
Congress have written a joint letter to
Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister
of Punjab, asking him to appoint an
independent judicial commission to
investigate the genocide by the Indian
government in Punjab from 1984 to
1998. The letter dated January 30
states that “it is imperative that your
Government fulfill its pledge to
appoint an independent judicial
inquiry to determine who was killed
and who responsible.” The joint letter
was signed by 23 congressional
representatives from states of New
York, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia,
Texas, Vermont, New Jersey,
California, Indiana, Illinois, and
Maryland. The Council of Khalistan
in a press release issued February 5
quoted its President Dr. Gurmit Singh
Aulakh, as saying that “the Sikh
Diaspora and honest Sikhs in Punjab
will never let the Badal Government
sweep the 14 year genocide under the
rug. The Akalis have made it clear
that they want the hundreds of
thousands of men, women and
children killed to be forgotten.” The
joint letter by the US Congressmen
has been welcomed by the Sikh
Students Federation through a written
statement. Representative Edolphus
Towns (D-N.Y.) inserted a statement
into the Congressional Record on
February 11 that “Letting Amnesty
International and other human rights
monitors into the country would also
signal India’s commitment to finding
and punishing those who violate
human rights. If India does not take
even these minimal steps, then we
must take strong action. It is time to
impose tough economic sanctions on
the India regime, cut off aid to that
theocratic satrapy, and publicly
support the freedom movements in the
many captive nations of South Asia.”
The same day Representative Towns
also placed a statement in the
Congressional Record condemning
the interception of mail by Punjab
Government of Sikh journalist
Sukhbir Singh Osan. India Abroad
(2/13/98, 2/20/98), Ajit US (2/19/98),
Des Pardes (2/13/98) and News India-
Times (2/20/98) published articles on
these developments.
Article on Sikh Candidate for
Illinois Legislature
The Chicago Daily Herald dated
February 9 published an extensive
article on the election campaign of
25-year old Sikh Ravi Singh of
Aurora, a candidate for the Illinois
state legislature. Ravi Singh stressed
moral responsibility as one of the
backbones of his message. The article
quoted Ravi Singh as “People ask me,
are you doing this in the spirit of
Mahatma Gandhi……No, I am doing
it in the spirit of Ronald Reagan and
George Bush.” Ravi Singh has been a
former aide to Lt. Governor Bob
Kustra and Illinois Treasurer Judy
Baar Topinka and if elected he would
be the first Sikh in the Illinois
legislature.
Asylum Seeker Describes Abuse in
Jail
Harpal Singh, who had been
transferred to the Union County Jail
of New Jersey in 1995 after an
uprising at an INS detention center,
has alleged that he was abused while
is custody of the jail authorities. In
The Record (Bergen County) dated
February 3, Harpal Singh alleges that
when he was brought to the county
jail, the guards tossed him from the
van. His turban fell off and a guard
grabbed his Kes and collar and locked
him in a small room with other
detainees. Later he is alleged to have
been strip searched, kicked and forced
to kneel naked along with several
other detainees for at least four or five
hours. Harpal Singh is currently in
federal custody while his asylum case
is pending with INS.
Torture Victims Get Help from SI
Survivor’s International (SI), an
organization of concerned physicians,
has been successful in providing
medical help to victims of torture. The
organization recently reported in an
article titled Tending to Rights in the
January/February 1998 issue of
Unique Opportunities: The
Physician’s Resource that “most of
our clients who come for medical
evaluation for asylum, probably 80 to
90 percent of them, come from Punjab
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(an area divided between India and
Pakistan). Many of these people have
been tortured by being beaten on their
feet. The prevalence of such injuries
has created a tremendous need for
orthopedic and podiatric services at
SI; however, the organization is still
without providers in specialty areas.
Laws also points to the need for
dermatologists to evaluate skin lesions
consistent with electric shock and
other forms of torture.”
US Confirms Abuses in J&K
The US State Department is reported
to have confirmed widespread
killings, abductions and abuses by
India security forces in the Muslim
majority state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The annual 1997 Human Rights
Report was released on January 30
and it alleges that about 350,000 to
400,000 government forces continue
to commit serious human rights
violations in the state. The Periscope
Daily Defense News Capsules dated
February 3 published an article on the
report. The report also confirms that
from 1/1/90 to 6/30/97, only 10
security personnel have been tried and
sentenced to more than 10 or more
years imprisonment for violating
human rights in J&K and Punjab.
Sikh Youth Symposiums
Sikh Youth Federation of USA
(member of VSC-USA) is organizing
youth symposiums at various centers
of its Midwest Zone. Youths from age
7 to 25 years will participate in the
event, in which they will be asked to
review a variety of assigned books and
deliver a speech on it. These books
have been supplied by the Hemkunt
Foundation of New York. The dates
on which the symposiums will be held
at various Gurdwaras is given below:
• Chicago Center: Palatine
Gurdwara Sahib, March 7, 1998
• Cleveland Center: Richfield
Gurdwara Sahib, March 14, 1998
• Pittsburgh Center: Monroeville
Gurdwara Sahib, March 21, 1998
• Detroit Center: Sikh Gurdwara
Sahib, March 28, 1998
More information on the event can be
obtained from center coordinators or
from Sikh Youth Federation of USA
by e-mailing to sikhs@accesstoledo

.com.
WSO Still Supports Khalistan
The World Sikh Organization
recently issued a written statement
that it still supports the Khalsa Panth
and Khalistan. The statement said
that “we have sought, continue to
seek, basic fundamental freedoms for
Sikhs in India, including the peaceful
pursuit of self determination for the
people of Punjab, a right we
commonly recognize in the name of
Singh Sajo Lehar Successful
More than ten thousand persons are
reported to have been formally
initiated into the Sikh faith by taking
Amrit under the Singh Sajo Lehar.
The Lehar is being organized to bring
the new generation and large number
of people into the fold of the Sikh
faith. The Amrit Abilakhi March
began on February 20 from Gurdwara
Gur Sabad Prakash, near Sohana
(Chandigarh) and ended at Takhat
Siri Kesgarh Sahib. The 15,000
person strong march was
accompanied by Jathedar of Siri Akal
Takhat Sahib, Singh Sahib Bhai
Ranjit Singh.
Sant Samaj to Cooperate with WSC
Sant Samaj President, Sarbjot Singh
Bedi, is reported to have assured
Jathedar of Siri Akal Takhat Sahib,
Singh Sahib Bhai Ranjit Singh, that
the Sant Samaj will fully cooperate
with the World Sikh Council.
No apologies for Offending
Poster:BJP
The Bhartiya Janat Party, an electoral
ally of Akali Dal (Badal), has refused
to apologize for two posters published
and distributed by its central office
which have offended the Sikh
community. Demonstrations against
the poster were organized by Sikhs in
India and abroad who contended that
the poster should not have contained
the picture of Siri Guru Gobind Singh
Sahib. However, the Akali Dal
(Badal) leaders chose not to comment
on the poster issue. Both the posters
contained a collage of pictures in the
background including that of Siri
Khalistan.” WSO can be contacted by
e-mail at wsopanth@trytel.com or by
calling (613) 723-2026.
Sikh Profiled on the Internet
Sardar D.I. Singh, a 70 year old Sikh
gentleman, was recently profiled on
the Pathfinder Homepage. The article
carried a picture of the Sikh
gentleman and elaborated that his
youngest son ran into trouble with the
Punjab police for supporting the Sikh
independence movement due to which
NEWS FROM PUNJAB (HOMELAND OF THE SIKHS)
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib as a
national hero of India. One of the
poster had a picture of L.K. Advani
and the other that of A.B. Vajpayee
overshadowing the background. Both
the calendars bear the printer and
publisher line as “Printed and
Published by BJP central office,
designed by Prasar Bharati, Printed at
Surya Print Process Pvt. Limited, New
Delhi.” BJP leaders have disowned
the poster but have refused to
apologize for hurting the religious
sentiments of the Sikh community.
Several newspapers published articles
on the offending posters including
The Statesman (2/11/98), The Hindu
(2/12/98) and Indian Express
(2/12/98, 2/14/98).
Drinking Among Sikhs in India
The Times dated February 29
published an article about
consumption of alcohol in India and
in particular focused on Haryana’s
failed prohibition drive. It reported
that “Sikhs, despite the exhortations
of their faith, are among the nation’s
biggest drinkers, evidence for which
is found in the number of accidents on
the Grand Trunk Road, which cuts a
deadly path through Punjab.”
No Need for Bluestar: Gurjral
Inder Kumar Gujral, Prime Minister
of India, is reported to have said on
February 11 at Kapurthala that there
was no need for Operation Bluestar
and described the recent apology after
14 years by Sonia Gandhi at
Chandigarh as being “meaningless.”
The Asia Intelligence Wire dated
3
his son fled to the US and was granted
amnesty. Unable to get to his son, the
Punjab police came after D.I. Singh
and he fled to the US four years ago.
His wife and granddaughters are still
in Punjab and he would like to bring
them to the US. A more complete
profile of D.I. Singh can be found at
the web address
http://pathfinder.com/news/sp
otlight/america/page1.html.
February 11 published an article on
Gurjal’s comments.
Voting in Punjab for Lok Sabha
On February 16, elections were held
in Punjab for 13 electoral seats of
India’s Lok Sabha. Heavy polling was
reported from rural areas while
metropolitan cities had very low
voting interest. The low urban voter
turnout is expected to significantly
affect the outcome of the elections. Of
the 1.53 million eligible voters in
Punjab, only 60% voted. The voter
turnout was much lower in Punjab
than in the neighboring states. In
1977 the voter turnout in Punjab was
73% while in 1996 it was 62%. The
percentage voting from each of the
electoral districts in Punjab were as
follows: Chandigarh - 53%, Faridkot -
72%, Gurdaspur - 65%, Patiala -
63%, Amritsar - 54%, Tarn Taran -
56%, Ropar - 58%, Ludhiana - 53%,
Sangrur - 66%, Bathinda - 57%,
Hoshiarpur - 55%, Phillaur - 60% and
Ferozepore - 63%. There have been
several reports of violent incidents
during and after the elections in
Punjab despite the presence of 67,000
security personnel in the state. At
least 36 persons are reported to have
been injured, three of them seriously.
Earlier, the Akali Dal (Badal) had
issued its election manifesto in which
its previous main electoral promise of
appointing a commission to
investigate genocide of Sikhs in
Punjab was dropped completely. The
Hindu dated February 16 stated that
“Sensing the general mood, the
Akalis also shifted their thrust to the
maintenance of peace from the

protection of human rights, while the
crisis of the Sikh identity gave way to
the need to strengthen communal
amity and resulted in the creation of
the nostalgia over Punjabi identity.”
NRI’s Visit Punjab for Elections
A large number of Sikh NRI’s are
reported to have visited Punjab to help
political parties in their campaigns
during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Most of the Sikhs visiting Punjab are
from Canada, US, UK and some
European countries, including
President of the North American unit
of Youth Akali Dal, Beant Singh
Dhaliwal, Akali Dal US supporter
Narinderpal Singh Hundal, and
Canada based Maninder Singh Gill.
Mann Denounces Khalistan
Simranjit Singh Mann, President of
Akali Dal (Mann), is reported to have
made it clear that a separate Sikh
state of Khalistan is not on his party’s
agenda and that he will never raise
this issue if voted to power. Mann
said that his party had left both
Khalistan and the Amritsar
declaration. Mann is also reported to
have said that their campaign was
purely against the Congress policies,
their record of human rights
violations, unemployment and police
atrocities. He said that his party will
continue to get Sikh youth released
from jails, put end to corruption and
ask for more autonomy for states.
Sikh Butchers Appointed Election
Officers by Congress Party
Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and
H.K.L. Bhagat, who had been accused
of actively participating in the
November 1984 massacre of Sikhs in
Delhi, are reported to have been
appointed by the Congress party as
election supervisors for some Delhi
electoral units. Sajjan Kumar was
appointed as the election supervisor
for outer Delhi candidate Deep Chand
Sharma, Jagdish Tyler as election
supervisor for Sadar candidate M.M.
Aggwaral and H.K.L. Bhagat was
reported to have been helping in the
campaign of East Delhi Congress
candidate Sheil Dikshit. The earlier
decision of the Congress party not to
give election tickets to these three
alleged butchers of Sikhs is now being
questioned.
Haryana Minister Involved in Sikh
Genocide
Haryana’s Health Minister, Om
Prakash Mahajan, is reported to have
been directly involved in the burning
alive of an aged Sikh Granthi and a
Gurdwara Sahib in Hissar in July of
1987. In a writ petition filed in the
High Court, Sarop Singh said that a
strong mob led by O.P. Mahajan
pounced upon the Gurdwara Sahib in
Hissar and indulged in loot and arson
in protest of killing of passengers in a
bus near Lalru on 7/8/87. Sarop Singh
claims that he and his family have
been victimized since he deposed
against O.P. Mahajan and registered a
case against him. His house has been
ransacked and burnt while an attempt
was made to forcibly take over his
petrol pump. Sarop Singh said that a
false case has been registered against
his son while police refuse to register
a case of arson against the alleged
culprits.
Supreme Court Defers Hearing on
Unidentified Cremation Cases
The Supreme Court of India is
reported to have deferred the hearing
of a petition involving disappearance
and alleged mass cremation of large
number of Sikh youths in Punjab. The
Government of India has challenged
the National Human Right
Commission’s investigations into the
illegal cremation of the Sikhs arguing
that the commission cannot
investigate complaints more than a
year old. The Punjab police officers
accused of carrying out the illegal
killings have also joined the
proceedings supporting the claim of
the government and are being
represented by India’s former
additional solicitor-general, A.M.
Singhvi. The case is being closely
watched by human rights
organizations.
Overwhelming Response to Human
Rights Violations Campaign
The Times of India Human Rights
Cell, which had recently started a
“Time to Speak Out” human rights
watch campaign, has been
overwhelmed with complaints from
4
over a thousand readers and are still
receiving endless telephone calls from
Indians wanting to report human right
violations by state and federal
agencies throughout India. The Times
of India dated February 5 published
an article on the response to the
human rights campaign.
Former Chief Justice Blames Media
for Ignoring Human Rights
Justice Rajinder Singh Sachar
(retired), former Chief Justice of
Delhi High Court and current
President of People’s Union for Civil
Liberties, has blamed the Indian
national media to a large extent for
failing to respond to the need of
highlighting human right atrocities
throughout India. He cited
innumerable instances of excesses by
law enforcing agencies in which
ordinary, and often innocent, citizens
were at the receiving end of the
authority. By not giving enough
coverage to violations of human rights
cases, he contended that the media
had encouraged the high-handedness
of bureaucrats and state authorities.
He welcomed the recent but much
delayed human rights campaign
launched by The Times of India and
added that any public outcry against
violations of human rights would go a
long way in sensitizing public opinion
in favor of greater respect for an
individual’s liberty and human rights.
Custom Officials Acts as Censors
The Indian Express dated February 2
reported that the custom authorities at
Indira Gandhi International Airport
have withheld at least ten
international titles published by
Oxford University Press thus
preventing them from being displayed
and sold at the 13 th World Book Fair
in New Delhi. The books that were
withheld dealt with a wide variety of
topics including history, religion and
politics. Some of the books were
confiscated due to their references to
Punjab and Kashmir.
Rights Activist Threatened by
Punjab Police Officials
Kirpal Singh Randhawa, Vice-
Chairman of Punjab Human Rights
Organization has written letters to
President of World Sikh Council and

Chief Minister of Punjab drawing
their attention to a conspiracy by
some Punjab police officers to
eliminate him. The human rights
activist is a witness in the Jaswant
Singh Khalra kidnapping case
orchestrated by police officials. A
false case has also alleged to have
been filed against the human rights
activist in the high court recently.
Katia Molestation Case
The Chief Judicial Magistrate of
Chandigarh has adjourned the Katia
kidnapping and molestation case to
March 4. Ms. Katia, a French
national, is alleged to have been
kidnapped from her Kenyan friend’s
house in Mohali and molested
subsequently by Gurkirat Singh,
grandson of Congress ex-Chief
Minister of Punjab Beant Singh, and
six others on 8/31/94.
Alarming Increase in Custodial
Deaths in India
Serious human right violations in the
form of custodial killings throughout
India are reported to have
significantly increased in last year.
Statistics recently released show that
more than 400 person were killed in
police custody during 1995-96.
However, in 1996-97 the number of
custodial deaths doubled to 888. Of
these approximately 700 occurred in
judicial custody, while the rest of the
persons were killed in police custody.
In the past, Amnesty International
had contended that torture and
custodial killings were pervasive
throughout India.
Sikh Girl Gang-Raped by 4 Police
Officials
Hardip Kaur, a 17 year old Sikh girl
who was on her way to her village to
observe Lohri with her family, is
reported to have been abducted and
gang-raped by four Punjab police
officials. She was waiting at the
Amritsar bus station to take a bus to
go to her village when two police
officials, Surinder Kumar and Raj
Kumar, offered to drop her off at her
village saying that it was getting dark
and that they were going close to her
village and would drop her off there.
The innocent school girl agreed but
the police officials instead forcibly
took her to a house in Basant Avenue,
where two other police officers,
Basant Rai and Rathi, were present.
According to the report lodged with
the police, the four police officials
repeatedly gang-raped Hardip Kaur
that night. The next day police officer
Surinder Kumar drove her on his
scooter to Hall Gate and dropped her
off by threatening that if she told
anybody about this, he would kill her
entire family. The scared Sikh girl
immediately returned to her village
and told her mother of the rape by
police officials. The police has
registered a case on the basis of a
complaint filed by Hardip Kaur’s
mother.
12 Year Old Girl Raped by Police
Official
A police constable of Kapurthala
district is reported to have been
arrested on charge of raping a 12 year
old girl on February 17. Another coaccused
is still absconding. According
to the local SSP Iqbal Singh, medical
examination of the girl confirmed the
alleged rape.
2 Police Officials Face Rape Inquiry
Two police officials of Jagraon have
been sent to police lines following an
inquiry ordered into the alleged rape
of a dalit woman, Paramjit Kaur, of
village Kiala near Halwara. The
police officials are reported to have
raped the lady and beaten her spouse,
Nanak Das.
Sikh Killed in Police Custody
Malkiat Singh, a resident of Bisgawa
near Mandi Ahmedgarh, is reported
to have died in February due torture
by Ahmedgarh police officials. A case
has been registered against the
Inspector and Sub-Inspector of
Ahmedgarh police station. In January
1998 another person, Baru Ram, was
reported to have been tortured to
death at the same police station.
Sikh Youth Tortured by Police
Manjit Singh, a 25 year old Sikh
youth of village Shahbazpur near
Tanda, is reported to have been
picked on January 29 around 5:30 PM
by CIA staff officials led by a Sub-
Inspector. The victim was taken to the
police station and tortured all night
5
using third degree techniques. His
family members approached the High
Court who sent a warrant officer to
the police station on January 30 and
secured the release of Manjit Singh
from illegal police custody. Manjit
Singh met with reporters and showed
them the lashes and external wounds
on his body.
Harassed Sikh Commits Suicide
On January 23, Ram Singh alias
Pappi Fauji resident of village Siani
near Tanda, committed suicide on
being surrounded by police officials.
Earlier in the day, Ram Singh had a
brief firing encounter with Punjab
police in which three officers were
injured. He met with reporters while
the police had surrounded his house.
He told the journalists that his
troubles began in June 1996 when
police officials registered a false case
against him. He was arrested and
tortured repeatedly in police custody
at Siani and Tanda but he managed to
escape from police custody. He stayed
in UP for some time and had returned
to sell his house in village Siani when
he was surrounded by police. After
meeting with the reporters, the victim
is reported to have committed suicide
by shooting himself instead of
surrendering, in fear of being tortured
again by Punjab police officials.
Dera Head Terrorizing Villagers
With Help of Police & Politicians
Resident of Halwara village on the
Ludhiana-Raikot road, are reported to
be living in great fear and terror
unleashed on them by the head of a
dera with the help of local police and
politicians by resorting to land
grabbing and beating of poor
residents. The dera head preached
that by 1997 the world would come to
an end so they should transfer their
land in the name of Siri Guru Granth
Sahib. Several village residents,
including Balbir Singh Sidhu, Maha
Singh, Bir Singh, Surinder Kaur and
Gurdip Singh, met with media
persons on February 4 and explained
their tale of woes. They allege that
their land holdings were forcibly
occupied by the dera head with the
help of the police and that they were
beaten in custody of the police. A
group of journalists who recently

visited the dera are reported to have
been intimidated by dera men and had
to run for the safety of their lives.
Two Sikh Boys Arrested
Baljinder Singh of Jalandhar and
Dhian Singh of Kapurthala, two Sikh
youths who were riding their bicycles
outside Gurdwara Guru Nanak
Mission in Jalandhar on February 10,
are reported to have been attacked by
Punjab police officials. The victims
were thrown off their bicycles, beaten
and pushed into a waiting police jeep.
Later, 150 police officials under the
direct command of an SSP are
reported to have surrounded the
Gurdwara Sahib. The police accuse
the two Sikhs of militancy but no
charges have been filed nor have they
been produced before a court. The
Gurdwara authorities and human
rights groups have approached the
National Human Rights Commission
to investigate the abductions. They
contend that the police action was a
farce and nothing more than a
“drama” enacted by Punjab police to
defame Gurdwaras. The local
residents are reported to have said
that neither of the two boys were
militants and they were of the opinion
that the episode was carried out as an
election stunt to give publicity to
Prime Minister Gujral who was
campaigning in the area for election
to the Lok Sabha.
Employee of Gurdwara Beaten by
Police Officials
Several police officials of Salem Tabri
police station Ludhiana are reported
to have attacked and beaten Jagdish
Singh, an employee of Gurdwara Siri
Charan Kanwal Sahib, on January 12.
7-8 police officials traveling in two
police cars are reported to have beaten
the victim in full view of the local
public and attempted to kidnap him.
The victim has been admitted to the
local Government hospital for
treatment of external and internal
wounds. A case has been registered
against some of the police officers. It
is reported that one of the accused
police officers may now have been
dismissed from police service.
Sikh Warrant Officer Assaulted by
Vairowal Police
Gian Singh, a warrant officer who on
directions on the High Court was
visiting the Vairowal police station in
search of the illegal detention of a
handicap Sikh Balwinder Singh, is
reported to have been assaulted on
January 2 by the police station staff.
The warrant officer’s register was
snatched and he was physically
assaulted. He was forced to sign a
statement that Balwinder Singh was
not at the police station, whereas the
police had beaten the victim in front
of the warrant officer at the Vairowal
police station. The High Court has
ordered an inquiry into the assault on
its representative which had gone to
the police station to secure the release
of Balwinder Singh from illegal
custody of Vairowal police.
Delhi Sikh Trader Vanishes
Harbans Singh Oberoi, a Delhi based
steel company owner who was visiting
Pune, Maharashtra, is reported to be
missing as per Indian Express dated
2/24/98. The Sikh executive is
reported to have been missing since
February 20.
Former Police Official Turns
Robber
A former police constable of Punjab
police and resident of village Kang
near Tarn Taran is reported to have
robbed a man of his Maruti van and
Rs. 3500 at gun-point. The robber was
arrested near village of Mandi Maur
on February 25. The robber is also an
under-trail in several pending
criminal cases.
Supreme Court Grants Stay
India’s Supreme Court admitted the
plea of Kishori Lal, nicknamed
“butcher of Delhi”, and granted a
temporary stay to his execution for the
killing of several Sikhs in November
6
of 1984. The death sentence was
awarded by a trial court and
confirmed by the Delhi High Court. A
hearing is expected to be held in the
middle of March. More than 20,000
Sikhs are reported to have been
butchered by mobs in Delhi during
the first two week of November 1984.
Monetary Compensation for
Victims of Nov. 1984 Massacres
The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh
High Court has ordered the state
government to pay an interim
compensation of Rs. 50,000 each to
next of kin of 26 Sikhs killed by mobs
during the November 1984 Sikh
massacres. The break-up of the Sikh
victims are as follows: 13 in Indore, 6
in Dewas, 2 in Bhind, 1 in Shivpuri
and 4 in Gwalior. The Deccan Herald
dated February 15 published an article
on the compensation ordered by the
court.
Court Finds Punjab Police Guilty of
1992 Disappearance of Sikh
The Punjab and Haryana High Court
has found Chamkaur Sahib police
officials guilty of the 192
disappearance of Gurdip Singh. The
court ordered Punjab police to pay a
compensation of Rs. 50,000 to the
family of the victim. Gurdip Singh
was picked up by police officials from
his village and as per police records,
he escaped from police custody on
9/9/92. The family of the victim had
approached the high court to look into
the disappearance of the Sikh youth.
The court determined that the escape
story was concocted by the police
officials. Gurdip Singh is said to have
been killed in a faked encounter or
tortured to death in police custody. A
case is also pending in the high court
against police officials for the
disappearance of his brother Nirvair
Singh, who police claims committed
suicide by taking cyanide. Nirvair
Singh is feared to have been killed in
police custody and his dead body
cremated as unidentified by Punjab
police.

Successful Worldwide Amrit
Prachaar Campaign
Hundreds of Sikh families and
individuals are reported to have
recently been formally initiated into
the Sikh faith by taking Amrit. The
Amrit Prachar Samagams have been
coordinated by the Singh Sajo Lehar
in many countries, including US,
Canada, Holland, Germany,
Switzerland, Austria and Belgium.
World Faiths and Development
The President of the World Bank and
Archbishop of Canterbury sponsored a
dialogue titled “World Faiths and
Development” at Lambeth Palace in
London on February 18-19. More
than 20 leaders from nine faiths,
including Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian,
Hindu, Jains, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh
and Taoist, participated in the event.
The aim of the dialogue was to
broaden opportunities for common
understanding and action in tackling
critical issues of global poverty. The
attendees agreed to work together to
ensure that development projects
consider spiritual, moral and social
effects along with financial
considerations.
Opposition to Christian Prayer in
UK Schools
All major Christian denominations,
Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Hindus,
Buddhists and Humanists of UK have
expressed their collective preference
in favor of flexible assemblies with
“spiritual and moral dimension”
instead of daily Christian prayers at
state run schools. Currently, schools
in UK must provide a daily act of
broadly Christian collective worship.
This practice has been questioned by
the multi-faith group in their recently
released report titled Collective
Worship Reviewed. The report
followed a series of conferences held
last year at which up to 60 different
religious and teaching organizations
participated.
NEWS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
Activities of Khalsa Human Rights
The Khalsa Human Rights, a UK
based organization, is currently
researching the plight of Dalits of all
faiths in India and organizing a forum
on building communities through
interfaith work. The conference titled
“Building Community: Living
Together, Working Together” will be
held on March 28-30 at Westminster
College, Oxford, UK. The program
will include case studies from India,
Africa, US and UK. More information
on the conference can be obtained
from the web page of International
Interfaith Center at http://interfaithcenter.org/.
Additional information
about the activities of Khalsa Human
Rights may be accessed at
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/squ
are/ev90495.
Punjab Studies Course in UK
The Handsworth College at
Birmingham University (UK) is
reported to have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with
the Guru Nanak Dev University,
Amritsar for a three year Bachelor of
Arts course in Punjab Studies. The
syllabus for the course will be framed
keeping in mind the needs of the
students and in consultation with the
staff of Handsworth College.
Des Pardes Advertises Ski Hats for
Sikh Youth
London based Panjabi weekly
newspaper Des Pardes, has been
publishing an advertisement titled
“Fashionable Ski Hats Embroidered
with the Orange Sikh Khanda.” The
advertisement seems to encourage
Sikh youth to buy these hats and wear
them instead of a turban. Some Sikhs
have expressed concern at the
newspaper prominently displaying
such anti-Sikh advertisements.
Ankhila Punjab Television
Program Revived
The Sikh community of North
America held an Ardaas Samaroh, on
February 21 at Ontario Khalsa
7
Darbar, to reinstate the broadcast of
Ankhila Punjab Television Show.
Several speakers addressed the
congregation including Sardar
Kuldeep Singh of Toledo, Coordinator
of Vishav Sikh Council-USA, Sardar
Ripsodhak Singh, former
Spokesperson of Ontario Gurdwaras
and Sardar Inderjit Singh Bal,
President WSO, Canada. Sardar
Kuldeep Singh, in his speech quoted
extensively from past historical
records to emphasize the need for an
effective media. Sardar Gurpreet
Singh Bal appealed for funds and
collected close to $3000. A total of
$60,000 are needed annually to run
the television show. A fund raising
program will soon be launched to
collect this amount. Further
information on Ankhila Punjab can be
obtained by calling (416) 617-7216.
Caring Malaysians Help Foreign
Sikh Worker
Balbir Singh, a 50 year old oil palm
plantation worker from India who had
suffered a stroke and could only
remember his name and village in
Punjab, was flown home on February
16 through the efforts of the Sentul
Sikh community in Malaysia. The
Gurdwara Sahib Sentul asked for
donations in the local Panjabi Malaya
Samachar to help the recovering Sikh.
The Sikh community was able to raise
enough money to pay for his airfare to
Punjab as well as provide him
additional monetary assistance for
further treatment.
Sikh Team in Malaysian Hockey
League
The Sikh Naujawan Sabha of
Bangsar, Kuala Lampur is reported to
have joined the National Junior
League of the Malaysian Hockey
Federation. A total of approximately
15 teams are in the league.
If you would like to send us a news item for possible publication in the newsletter, please e-mail it by the 15 th of the month to
vsc-usa@unforgettable.com or send it to VSC-USA Newsletter, PO Box 1553, Dublin, Ohio 43017.

Vishav Sikh Council - USA
6863 Cloister Road
Toledo, OH 43617
Gurpurabs for March 1998
Actual Dates
March 3 Joti Jot Divas of Siri Guru Hargobind Sahib (1644)
March 8 Gur Gaddi Divas of Siri Guru Har Rai Sahib (1644)
March 29 Joti Jot Divas of Siri Guru Angad Sahib (1552)
March 29 Gur Gaddi Divas of Siri Guru Amar Das Sahib (1552)
March 29 Formation of Khalsa by Siri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (1699)
March 30 Joti Jot Divas of Siri Guru Harkrishan Sahib (1664)
March 31 Prakash Divas of Siri Guru Angad Sahib (1504)
Observed Dates
March 26 Gur Gaddi Divas of Siri Guru Har Rai Sahib (1644)
March 28 Gur Gaddi Divas of Siri Guru Amar Das Sahib (1552)
March 31 Joti Jot Divas of Siri Guru Angad Sahib (1552)
(Information provided by Sardar Baldev Singh)
Celebrate the 300 th Anniversary of the Khalsa by Joining
the Sava Lukh Sikh March in Washington, DC in April 1999
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