Demand for benefits to Punjab cops convicted of fake encounters unjust: Akal Takht Jathedar

Officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj today said the Punjab Police Welfare Association's demand for pensionary benefits to cops convicted of fake encounters was unjustified.

Reacting to a report in these columns, he questioned the comparison of police officers convicted by the CBI court for their role in fake encounters with the Sikh prisoners languishing in jails for decades.

Jathedar Gargaj said Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, whom the association had approached for benefits, should note that the victim families of Sikh youths had to fight a long legal battle for three decades to get the police officers convicted. During the period, the culprits were given promotions and facilities, and now the government was finding excuses to benefit them, he added, urging the Governor to make the decision according to the sentiments of Punjabis, especially Sikhs.

He said the Bandi Singhs had been released as per law and after three decades. However, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Gurdeep Singh Khera, Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Jagtar Singh Tara and Paramjit Singh Bheora were still under detention, which was a major violation of human rights.

He said it would be unfair for the the victim families of Sikh youths if the police officers serving sentence were released prematurely. He said the Punjab Government should ensure that they served the full sentence awarded by the CBI court.

Jathedar Gargaj said while the Punjab Government talked about upholding the Constitution, it did not follow the same and its intention was not to give any justice to the Sikhs. He added that any move by the government to aid the early release of the convicted police officers would be a great disrespect to the CBI court and the Constitution.