BATHINDA, Punjab—Two weeks ago, Satnam Singh from the village of Raiya in Bathinda, was reunited with his family and is now at home spending time away from the confines of prison. This has only been possible with the support of the Sangat which enabled SOPW to fund Satnam Singh’s legal case and provide welfare to him during his imprisonment. For over four years, Satnam Singh has been harassed by being continuously arrested and imprisoned. As far back as May 2010 he was arrested by Dayalpura Police and charged under the Indian Penal Code for conspiracy, breech of the peace and making a hate speech, also possession of weapons under the Arms Act. He managed to clear his name in February 2011.
Not long after, he was arrested by Barnala City Police in September 2012 once again for possession of arms and he was charged under the Unlawful Activities Act (UAPA). It took almost a year until he was freed in July 2013.
Then, most recently Satnam Singh was arrested in September 2013, having spent less than two months back at home. Barnala City Police charged him under the UAPA Act and various sections of the Arms Act. On 17th March 2014 he has been able to return home and we pray that the continued harassment is at last over and he be allowed to settle back into his family life.