Dal Khalsa honours plane jackers

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 29

Radical Sikhs today honoured five members of the Dal Khalsa, who led by Gajinder Singh, had hijacked an Indian plane to Pakistan 40 years ago on this day to secure the release of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

The five hijackers were honoured with gold medals expressing deep gratitude for their long imprisonments and exile. Of the five, Gajinder Singh, Jasbir Singh and Karan Singh are reportedly still in exile while Satnam Singh and Tejinderpal Singh have returned to Punjab after completion of their life sentences in Pakistan prisons.

To mark the 40th year of hijacking, a samagam was organised by the Dal Khalsa at Gurdwara Nauvi Patshahi in GTB Nagar here, in which representatives of different groups participated.

Son of Bhindranwale, Ishar Singh, former militant leader Narien Singh, SGPC members Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Karnail Singh Panjoli, and brother of Gen Shabeg Singh, Beant Singh, bestowed the honour on the hijackers. Since three of them are in exile, their near and dear ones took the gold medal on their behalf. While Gajinder is believed to be in Pakistan, Karan and Jasbir are in Switzerland.

Recalling the background in which the top brass of the Dal Khalsa had to take the extreme step to hijack the plane, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said in the late ’70s of the last century, the Sikhs of Punjab faced attacks.

Pushed to the wall, with no possibility of justice and fair play in sight, Dal Khalsa men led by Gajinder Singh decided to hijack an aeroplane on September 29, 1981, to protest against the arrest of Bhindranwale.

Dal Khalsa head Harpal Singh Cheema said hijackers suffered the agony of prison life in Pakistan for 14 years. After release, Gajinder Singh and two others chose to lead a life in exile. Pertinently, the Indian establishment has declared Gajinder Singh as one of the most wanted persons and demanded his extradition from Pakistan.