AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Sikh bodies including Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have taken serious note of the rejection of parole of Sikh political prisoner Bhai Gurdeep Singh Khera who is serving life imprisonment since 1991.
On Sunday, the district administration rejected the parole application of Bhai Khera, relying on the report of the Amritsar rural police. The report had claimed that he could flee if released on parole. The report also maintained that out of prison, Khera could become a law and order problem.
Bhai Khera was shifted in June to Amritsar from Gurbarga Jail in Karnataka where he was being held after being awarded life imprisonment in a TADA case by a Bidar court in 1991.
Reacting sharply to the denial of bail, Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said, “To seek parole is his right not privilege. The administration has violated the prisoner’s rights. Bhai Khera attended the wedding ceremony of his sister and returned back to jail. This fact is enough to make him able to get his right. The plea that he will run away is absurd.”
On the other hand, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) additional secretary Daljit Singh Bedi too expressed similar views saying that the development is unfortunate.
He said, “Being in jail for 24-25 years is a very very long period. There was no harm if he had been granted parole to be with his family for a few days. What threat can a man of Khera’s age be? I think his case should be reconsidered.”
