Bhai Pal Singh’s Release Deferred by Akali Re-Election

Pal Singh, a French National, has been detailed illegally by Punjab Police for almost two years

—The case of Bhai Pal Singh, a French national who has been detained illegally since July 2010 by the Punjab Police, has suffered a major setback after the re-election of Akali Dal (B) in the recently held elections.  From internal sources linked to the Sikh Organization for Prison Welfare (SOPW), it has been learned that if not for the re-election of Akali Dal (B) and the right wing Bhartiya Janta Party in Punjab, Bhai Pal Singh’s release was eminent by summer of this year.

Bhai Pal Singh’s case was presented to the Sikh Sangat by the Sikh24 team this past October when his name was erroneously linked to the “discovery” of RDX in Ambala, Haryana. The planting of RDX or other explosives is a well documented tactic by the police in Punjab and surrounding states when taking in political prisoners or staging executions to look like gun battles.

Although Bhai Pal Singh has been detained illegally for over two years, he is yet to receive a fair trial.  According to SOPW, an international organization which has done immense work for the welfare of Sikh prisoners lodged in Punjab, Bhai Pal Singh has been tortured severely by the Punjab Police leaving him blinded in one eye and his health in a poor condition.

Bhai Pal Singh was arrested first when he was doing humanitarian work in villages across Punjab, trying to raise awareness against drugs and for Sikhi principles.  With Bhai Pal Singh’s dedicated and determined worked, many of Punjab’s youth that he came in contact with gave up drugs.  He was dedicated to helping a new generation of Sikhs in Punjab.

This somehow alarmed the Punjab Government and led to the unwarranted arrest and detainment of Bhai Pal Singh.

Shaheed Bhai Kulwant Singh was brutally burnt alive by Punjab Police in February 2012

Bhai Pal Singh’s life is always in danger in Punjab.  One of his associates, Kulwant Singh, was deliberately set on fire and murdered by Punjab Police while in custody this past February.  Punjab Police has tried to dispose of the case without allowing any investigations into the killing.  Both Kulwant Singh and Pal Singh have faced similar torture techniques, including electric shocks to the ears and genital area, as well as being beaten with sticks.

Sikh Organization for Prisoner Welfar website

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