AMRITSAR SAHIB—The counter intelligence wing of the Punjab Police on Thursday claimed to have arrested a former militant, Hardial Singh alias Chatra, who was allegedly wanted in at least six cases. The intelligence wing claimed that Chatra remained associated with Sikh militant organization Bhindranwala Tiger Force (BTF).
In a press release issued here after the arrest, Gaurav Yadav, Inspector General counter intelligence, said Chatra was held near the interstate bus terminus. He said he was awarded life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1997 in a murder case registered against him at the Patti police station in Tarn Taran. He remained under ground in 2005 after his bail plea was dismissed by the High Court.
Yadav said, “Chatra has additional cases registered against him at Sadiq (Ferozepur), Sultanpur (Kapurthala), Sarhali (Tarn Taran), and Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran).”
The claim made by Police officers contains no authenticity as practice of abusing human rights in Punjab continues and to oppress political dissent. Police frequently arrests Sikh youth terming them as “dangerous terrorists” and fabricating them in cases. Punjab police has ruined future of many Sikh youth, since the late 1970s. Punjab based human rights organizations, have from time to time, raised voice against such inhumane practices which are followed by the police when dealing with the Sikhs in Punjab.
