On 4 Apr, in the case against Indian National Congress leader Jagdish Tytler related to the killing of Sikhs during the 1984 Sikh genocide, a Delhi court heard testimony from former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Manjit Singh GK. GK brought up the fact that he had received a pen drive containing Tytler’s confession on the murders of Thakur Singh, Badal Singh, and Gurcharan Singh at Pul Bangash Gurdwara. GK stated that Surinder Singh Granthi, now deceased, had given him the pen drive. The pen drive has been submitted to the investigating agency for verification. Separately, Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal, detained in Panjab since 2017 on terror charges linked to targeted killings, was recently moved into solitary confinement after his acquittal in one of nine criminal cases. Johal’s family voiced concern about harsh prison conditions and criticized the British government for not pressing for his immediate release. Meanwhile, the Delhi state Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sarchand Singh Khiala wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta seeking Sikh prisoner Professor Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar’s freedom before (Inauguration of the Khalsa), citing his 29-year incarceration. On 3 Apr, in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), Aam Aadmi Party Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang reminded the union government of a 2019 announcement promising the release of those who have served 25-30 years in prison and raised the Bandi Singhs (Sikh prisoners) issue. This is ironic because on 7 Jan the Panjab AAP govt. had dispersed the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (Community Justice Front) members who were taking out a rally marking two years of the protest seeking release of Bandi Singhs. Meanwhile, over 400 Gurdwaras and Sikh groups delivered a letter to UK Labour leader and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to fulfil a 2022 pledge to investigate British involvement in the 1984 Indian Army attack on Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) (earlier coverage).
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