March 27th 2012 marks the 10th year anniversary for Bhai Balbir Singh�s �Freedom�
On 27th March 2002, after spending two and half years in prison, SOPW chairman, Bhai Balbir Singh was stood in front of the Supreme court for final verdict regarding his case for which he had been tortured and imprisoned since being abducted illegally by police in June 1999.
As Bhai Balbir Singh stood in the Supreme Court he knew this was the end of the road and finally he would be vindicated of false charges or the dark cloud of falsehood would continue. The Judge read out his verdict stating that the case was �A balloon of falsehoods�. Further the Supreme Court Judge stated Bhai Balbir Singh�s treatment was a clear example of a miscarriage of justice. It was also later revealed that the explosives supposedly �found� in position of Bhai Balbir Singh were in fact from the Indian Secret Service�s own supplies and had been planted as part of a conspiracy by India�s security services.
It was towards the end of his trial when Bhai Balbir Singh and Prof. Devinderpal Singh Bhullar discussed giving a voice to the Sikh Political Prisoners. After an additional 3 years, trying to comeback to the U.K. (total 5 years in India) Bhai Balbir Singh was granted permission and immediately set up a meeting with organisation leaders, discussing plans to help these Political Prisoners. Though these groups were reluctant to help, this did not stop Bhai Balbir Singh.
After gaining support of life long advocates, SOPW evolved. In 2008, SOPW became a registered charity and in the beginning was only able to support a handful of prisoners. Four years on SOPW is now looking after every Sikh Political Prisoner known to us, in every prison across India and is now moving around the world.
We would like the thank Bhai Balbir Singh for his great sacrifice of human rights internationally and in particular for Sikh Nation and other minority communities and regardless of daily challenges he faces in continues to work full time job to support his family as well as volunteering all his time and efforts towards the running of SOPW as chairperson.
Bhai Balbir Singh has been doing Seva since the early 1980�s and was part of the 5 beloved ones in the 1984 and 1985 London procession. He arranged the weddings and financial supported the Sikh martyrs families. This was during the time when people were scared to even mention the words Justice, let alone being advocates. Sevadaars in the UK and around the world specifically India have being rounded up, arrested and some even murdered.
A book is currently being prepared which will give an insight into the life and Bhai Balbir Singh and extraordinary journey is has been through, news of release of this book will be announced by SOPW via website and social networks.
