UNITED SIKHS Files Criminal
Complaint against Punjab Police for Removal of Sikh's Turban
Thursday, 31 March 2011 11:10
Sikhs Seek Concrete Measures from Governments of Panjab and
India to Ensure that the Punjab Police Uphold Religious Freedom
HIGHLIGHTS: UNITED SIKH Files a criminal complaint before the Mohali Judicial
Magistrate against Punjab Police for removing a Sikh youth's turban near the PCA
Stadium, Mohali on 28th March 2011. The Magistrate has ordered the Police to
submit a report on the incident on 16th April 2011.
Writes to Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take suo moto
action against the errant police officers and to order a reform of the Punjab
Police Rules to protect religious freedom.
Writes to the Indian Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Panjab Chief Minister
and Home Minister seeking a public statement, condemning this egregious police
action and to ensure that those responsible for such actions are held
accountable both on a local and national level and seeking a reform of the
Punjab Police Rules to protect religious freedom.
Organizes a petition (
http://unitedsikhs.org/petitions/petition.php?id=16
) urging the Global Sikh Community and members of society who uphold the
values of freedom of religion, thought, and belief to condemn the action of the
errant police officers in Mohali, Panjab, by signing a petition seeking judicial
and governmental intervention to end institutional bigotry in the Punjab Police.
Petition may be signed here
Errant police officers suspended yesterday but Sikhs demand a full inquiry to
establish how institutional bigotry in the Punjab Police can be eliminated
Mohali, Panjab, India: UNITED SIKHS has filed today a criminal complaint with
the Mohali Judicial Magistrate First Class about the willful public removal of a
Sikh's Turban by a Punjab Police officer, who said he was acting on the
instructions of a police superintendent. The Magistrate has ordered the Police
to respond with a report on the next hearing date, 16th April 2011. This
incident that has hurt the religious sentiments of the global Sikh Community is
an affront to a community that considers Panjab as its homeland and the
birthplace of its religion.
The incident in question took place on March 28, 2011 near the PCA stadium,
Mohali, Panjab. A Sikh youth, participating in a peaceful sit-in staged by
retrenched rural veterinary pharmacists and employees, was pulled aside by
police officials and his Turban was forcibly removed without cause. The police
official responsible for the act is a Mohali Phase VIII Station House Officer (SHO),
Sub-Inspector Kulbhushan, and he said he acted on orders from Mohali
Superintendent of Police (SP)- Pritam Singh to remove the turban of the Sikh
individual who had requested that his turban not be touched. |