Shot student's family demand a full inquiry
The family of a student killed during a demonstration in India are calling for a full investigation into his death.
Jaspal Singh,18, died on Thursday when police opened fire on a group of Sikhs protesting in the Punjab city of Gurdaspur.
They were demonstrating against the death penalty imposed on Balwant Singh Rajoana, who has been in prison for 17 years for the assassination of former first minister of the Punjab, Beant Singh.
Jaspal's uncle, aunt and cousins live off Melton Road, Leicester, said they were in shock.
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Cousin Jatinder said: "I knew Jaspal very well. He was a hard-working and very intelligent student.
"He was the pride of his parents. He had joined the protesters in support of Balwant Singh and they were unarmed.
"Why did the police turn on them and start shooting?
"Jaspal was shot when he was chanting prayers.
"The police had no reason to open fire.
"We want a full investigation into what happened and the officer responsible suspended and put in jail pending trial.
"We also want the officer in charge to be investigated.
"As Sikhs we are opposed to the death penalty. But we want justice."
Balwant Singh Rajoana is on death row in Punjab for his role in the 1995 murder of Mr Singh, who was killed by suicide bomber Dilawar Singh.
Rajoana was convicted of acting as a back-up suicide bomber should Singh have failed.
On Wednesday, the Indian president stayed the execution order for the time being.
Rajoana had asked members of the Sikh community to wear orange or fly orange pennants and flags as a peaceful protest against the death penalty.
However, during the demonstration, a rival group took a turban from a protester and set it on fire and then the police started shooting at demonstrators.
Jatinder said his family in Leicester had heard about the killing on satellite television.
They did not know that the victim was a relative until they received a phone call from family in Punjab.
Jatinder's father Sukhdev Singh flew out to India on Friday for the funeral, which was held on Saturday. Sukhdev's wife Rajinder Kaur said: "My husband has gone out to support his sister's family during this time."
The family had visited Jaspal's relatives a year ago and Mrs Kaur's two sons knew him well.
Members of the Leicester family and the community gathered at the family home to pay their respects over the weekend.
Gurjit Singh, of the support organisation International Panthic Dal, said: "We want the Sikh community in Leicester to join in prayer to support the family and call for an inquiry into what happened to Jaspal.
"It is important that those who are responsible are dealt with by the law.
"We oppose the death penalty and want the sentence against Balwant Singh commuted."
Another student who was shot in the incident died later of his injuries.
More than 150 Sikhs from Leicester joined scores of others from around the country in a convoy from Birmingham to London last week in protest at the execution.
Comments
by justice4u
Tuesday, April 03 2012, 11:10AM
“Leon12
They were not armed by Congress, you seriously should stop reading articles on Sikh extremist sites. Congress put terrorist Bhrindanwale into power, just like Labour might have an MP in power in a seat. However Pakistan was wounded about losing Bangladesh in 1971 and wanted to do the same to India, so started influencing Bhrindanwale and brainwashing him that some sort of injustice was being done when nothing was wrong. Even when medicals were done post Operation Bluestar, many of the militants were found circumcised, a practice not followed in Sikhism, because they were muslim militants across the border from Pakistan that had sullied the Golden Temple as well as been successful in creating violence in Punjab.
The police in India kill many everyday, not just Sikhs, you are making it out to be a Sikh thing. What was he doing at the age in a third world country where most protesters are crazy? The police didn't shoot at hundreds of other protesters, there are two sides to every story, how do you know this boy was not causing trouble himself?”
by inderpal1984
Monday, April 02 2012, 8:24PM
“Check these link out.
http://tinyurl.com/d58kwhb
http://tinyurl.com/c7dyo3e
The Indian govt establishment has cold bloody killed 2 innocent Sikh youth's.
All they want is to follow path of Lakhpat Rai and to completely destroy Sikhs from Punjab and India that's the part of there plan.
Sikhs should unite and look to the larger picture.”
by KiranM
Monday, April 02 2012, 4:25PM
“Jaspal Singh's death was very unfair along with many other sikh's The India government need to sort themselves out or give Sikh's there independence!”
by Leon12
Monday, April 02 2012, 4:08PM
“justice4u,
You are wrong on so many issues that it is difficult to know where to start. The Sikh militants that you referred to were not funed by Pakistan/ISI. They were armed and funed by Indira Ghandi and her Congress party, this was done to create a split in the main Sikh Party in the Punjab, the Akali Dal. As is usually the case, the militants then became out of control of their former masters, and instead turned the weapons that had been supplied to them by the Congress party on to their former backers. This young man had every right to attend a peaceful demonstration, the question that needs to be asked is why did the Police think it justifiable to use deadly force against peaceful demonstrtaors (another teenager also died from his wounds), anyone who is famliar with India and Indian Police know that they use extreme brtutality on any and every ocassion and for whatever pretext they so wish.”
by LikeItaLot
Monday, April 02 2012, 2:15PM
“by DuaneB
Monday, April 2 2012, 1:31PM
."Why should we care? England is not India."
.
We can be concerned but should not get involved”
by FP777
Monday, April 02 2012, 1:11PM
“Just to clarify, in regards to the Shiv Senna group they are essentially the Hindu version of the BNP. They do not represent Hindu's. They are there for the sole aim to derail what are protests against the government, injustice and capital punishment and turn them into Sikh vs Hindu fights. That is what they will love to see. This is demonstrated by the fact they have attempted to cause friction by burning Sikh Turbans and throwing objects and disrputing Sikhs preying over the past couple of days. This is of-course all done to provoke a reaction and cause racial tensions.
Do not let them win. This is a protest against injustice. Not racial / religious wars.”
by Chaanpardesi
Monday, April 02 2012, 12:52PM
“Those claiming Sikhs rallies are rowdy are obviously members of the extremist hindu group of Shiv saniks who were the cause of this boys death .Shiv sainiks are what hitlers youth were;in fact the shiv sainiks carry the nazi sign.The entire Punjab was peacful until these shiv sainiks jealous of the Sikh success decied they wish to cause trouble by attacking old, women and young Sikh boys in Gurdaspur.As a result some Sikhs gathered there to protest and ask the Police to arrest the culprits; but it looks like the shiv sainiks paid the police to then without any warning attack the peacefully sat sikh youths, resulting in the death of this young man.If one sees the scenes of this attack one would easily be led to think it was an army firing at the enemy not a police.I have not known of any Sikh rally being rowdy;instead I have policemen enjoying the free lannger along with the Sikhs.”
by Chaanpardesi
Monday, April 02 2012, 12:47PM
“Forget about this article.But what the entire humanity and the so called FREE press of the world has failed miserably is to highlight that for almost 20 long years Sikhs in the Punjab were subjected to a reign of terror and killings by the Indian state.NONE of THESE news was ever seen important for any free press to carry and bring to the attention of the world.In other words inadvertently or advertently, the world joined the Indian state and it's biased press against a minority community's attemnpt to survive with dignity.Thousands were killed and NOT reported to the outside world, including children aged 4 and old ladies aged 82 onwards.In such climate four men decided they had to end the rule of terror brought about against the Sikhs by a government that was elected by only 6 % of the population; and supported by the central Indian state's anti Sikh outfit.Sadam Hussein has been killed by governments outside the country;Gaddafi went with the aid of governments outside the country;But no one was interested in the Punjab and its tyraniucal rulers; as the news was suppressed by the state and four men inside Punjab, two of whom were in deed POLICEMEN decided that enough was enough and got rid of the CM; and the terror ended with his death.Rajoana was among the group but N OT the person who killed the CM.If Hitler was killed in similar circumstances; I am sure theose reponsibile would have been hailed heros.Rajoana has been in jail for the last 17 years undergoing a trial that broke every legal procedure and scales of a fair justice.He has remained there with an impecable behaviour.It is about time, The Indian state ended this reign of terror and unfair justice against the Sikhs and free this man.Thousands of others are still in Indian jails without any hope of fair justice for the next 50 years.Is it any wonder why the every Sikh is angry is the question to ask.WE cannot have human rights for one section of the society while we suppress the rights of another profiled upon religion.”
by Chaanpardesi
Monday, April 02 2012, 12:43PM
“Forget about this article.But what the entire humanity and the so called FREE press of the world has failed miserably is to highlight that for almost 20 long years Sikhs in the Punjab were subjected to a reign of terror and killings by the Indian state.NONE of THESE news was ever seen important for any free press to carry and bring to the attention of the world.In other words inadvertently or advertently, the world joined the Indian state and it's biased press against a minority community's attemnpt to survive with dignity.Thousands were killed and NOT reported to the outside world, including children aged 4 and old ladies aged 82 onwards.In such climate four men decided they had to end the rule of terror brought about against the Sikhs by a government that was elected by only 6 % of the population; and supported by the central Indian state's anti Sikh outfit.Sadam Hussein has been killed by governments outside the country;Gaddafi went with the aid of governments outside the country;But no one was interested in the Punjab and its tyraniucal rulers; as the news was suppressed by the state and four men inside Punjab, two of whom were in deed POLICEMEN decided that enough was enough and got rid of the CM; and the terror ended with his death.Rajoana was among the group but N OT the person who killed the CM.If Hitler was killed in similar circumstances; I am sure theose reponsibile would have been hailed heros.Rajoana has been in jail for the last 17 years undergoing a trial that broke every legal procedure and scales of a fair justice.He has remained there with an impecable behaviour.It is about time, The Indian state ended this reign of terror and unfair justice against the Sikhs and free this man.Thousands of others are still i INdian jails without any hope of fair justice for the next 50 years.Is it any wonder why the every Sikh is angry is the question to ask.WE cannot have human rights for one section of the society while we suppress the rights of another profiled upon religion.”
by TARLOKSINGH
Monday, April 02 2012, 12:27PM
“he wasnt British kid his extended family are here ....
do not desecrate the good natured sikh faith with your ill founded one sided comments ...I have been to many sikh rallies and never once have I seen them get rowdy we are a peaceful person
for all the sacrifices made in the past,
after all the massacres/ mass rapes that have taken place
and the humility of the ordinary humble Sikh
how much longer can we expected to live as second class citizens with limited rights towards justice, it is ultimatley a major foundation of our religion.....
what we will see here on the comments are ignorant thoughts of misguided, misinformed individuals!”