06 September 2010

In Tribute - Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra

SHAHEED JASWANT SINGH KHALRA
 Fifteen years ago today, KP- Gill and his minions kidnapped, tortured and eventually killed on of the Panth's brightest star, the human rights activist Bhai Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra.  He was, of course just one of thousands, tens of thousands, lakhs who disappeared in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s.

KP-  GILL
He dedicated his life to tracking down those who had disappeared, to find out what really happened to them.  He discovered the truth and for that he had to die.

Please watch this video, courtesy of the Sikh Activist Network (SAN).  It is in Punjabi with English subtitles.  Please take the 18 minutes necessary and watch it in memory of Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra ji.



Jaswant Singh Khalra's Last International Speech from SikhActivistNetwork on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/14741568

He was not secretly cremated.  It is reported that after being held and tortured for over a month, pieces of his body were thrown into the Sutlej River on 24 October 1995.  The next time you look into the waters of this one of the Five Rivers remember our brother's body floating, in pieces, down its waters. 

Sutlej River in the 1980s and 1990s

There were 6 Punjab Policemen charged with his murder.  Five were convicted and awarded life sentences.  The sixth was acquitted.  The most guilty criminal of the gang, KP- Gill remains at large and securely protected by the government of India (OK).  To read more about Jaswant Singh  Khalra ji and the convictions, go to the ensaaf page



 If it is at all possible for you, please attend SAN's conference, Where Did They All Go:  Jaswant Singh Khalra Memorial Weekend, 11-12 September 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada  It will be hosted by Jaswant Singh Khalra ji's wife, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra and it will be possible to meet and talk with her.