Determined to seek “justice” for five Sikh prisoners languishing in jails after completing their sentence, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa continued his fast-unto-death from Gurdwara Amb Sahib, after the PGI authorities discharged him on Tuesday.
Rejoining his Morcha at Mohali’s Gurdwara, Gurbaksh Singh’s fast entered 27th day. Unmoved by legal or physical hurdles, he arrived at the protest site joining ludhiana-lad Damandeep Singh in continuing the indefinite hunger strike. Gurbaksh Singh stressed that the protest would continue unless the “Singhs are released from illegal imprisonment”. On late Monday night, he was shifted to Chandigarh PGI from Ropar Jail on health concerns but was later released from custody. All the charges against him have also been withdrawn.
He was earlier booked under Sections 107 and 151 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for abetment of a thing, and knowingly continuing Assembly of five or more persons after it has been commanded to disperse. He was remanded in eight days’ custody to Ropar’s Central Jail.
The movement, launched in support of those who have been sentenced for life after being convicted for their involvement in terrorism-related activities, is receiving support from various religious, social and political Sikh bodies besides many Gurdwara Committees and youth groups, not only in Punjab, or India, but also from abroad.
Started by Gurbaksh Singh, his hunger strike was continued by ludhiana youngster Damandeep Singh, along with three other Sikh youth from Sri Nagar. They have been seeking the release of five Sikhs languishing in prisons “after completion of their jail sentences”, including Gurmeet Singh, Shamsher Singh, lakhwinder Singh — all lodged in Chandigarh’s Burail Jail since 1995, laal Singh — lodged at Nabha Jail in Punjab since 1992 and Gurdeep Singh lodged at Gulbarga jail in Karnataka since 1990.
Three of them — lakhwinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh and Shamsher Singh — were convicted and sentenced to life by the trial court in 2007 for their involvement in assassinating former Chief Minister Beant Singh on August 31, 1995, outside Punjab Civil Secretariat at Chandigarh. Their conviction and sentence were upheld by the Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on October 12, 2010.
Even as the SAD-led Punjab Government is tight lipped, the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has downplayed Gurbaksh Singh’s initiative saying that it was “against the Sikh principles”.