High Court Notifies Panjab on Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke’s Death

Hari Singh Sekhon, son of former Akal Takht Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a preliminary inquiry and criminal trial against three police officers in the disappearance of his father in 1993. On 5 Feb, Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu’s Bench issued a notice to the state of Panjab. Sekhon has stated his father was killed in cold blood after keeping him in illegal custody from 25 Dec 1992 to 2 Jan 1993. Sekhon told the Bench that Jathedar Kaunke was arrested from his house in the presence of about 200 villagers and was never produced in any court or even arrested by Jagraon police. On 2 Jan 1993, a First Information Report was registered for an attempt to murder and other offenses at Sidhwan Bet police station, alleging that Jathedar Kaunke was being escorted for the recovery of arms when the police party was ambushed by militants. In the exchange of fire between the militants and the police, Jathedar Kaunke escaped. Sekhon has sought action against former SSP Swaran Singh, former SHO Gurmit Singh, and former CIA staff in-charge Ajeet Singh for ‘fabricating false evidence in the shape of their affidavits, knowing to be false and for producing the same before the court.’ It must be noted that neither SGPC nor the Panjab government has filed a case even though the recently released 1999 inquiry report by Additional Director General Police BP Tiwari questioned the police claims about Kaunke’s arrest and cast doubts on the police version of his alleged escape from custody. (SDW Vol. 1 Issue 15, Story 4)