LFHRI Expressed anguish over detainment of Parminder Singh Saini
By Gurtej Singh
Published: January 29, 2010
Chandigarh (January 29, 2010): Lawyers for human rights International in a statement has said that it was shocked by the treatment given to Barrister and Solicitor Parminder Singh Saini by the Canadian authorities and Indian authorities. “It is very sad to note the manner in which Barrister Saini was deported from Canada, even though since 1995, he had a clean record in Canada and had not indulged into any political/criminal activity.” says the statement issued by Advocate Navkiran Singh for LFHRI.
Statement further reads that Barrister Saini was involved in hijacking of a plane of Indian Airlines from Jammu to Lahore on 6th July 1984 and had undergone the sentence of life imprisonment in Pakistan and was released after ten years of incarceration in jail and so had been adequately punished for his alleged offence.
It is also noteworthy that the said hijacking was an outburst of anguish towards the then government, which had indulged into operation blue star in June 1984, in which several hundred of Sikhs including innocent pilgrims were killed by the Indian army in Darbar sahib Amritsar. It is also pertinent to mention that the history of plane hijackings started when for the first time after the independence of India, a plane was hijacked by two brothers from Allahabad in 70’s, as a mark of anguish for incarceration of the late prime minister of India Shmt. Indira Gandhi, who or regaining power had honored with Rajya Sabha membership to one of the brothers. So the reaction of the present Indian government in invoking the provisions of National Security Act against Barrister Parminder Singh, cannot be found to be justifiable from the moral angle, says the statement.
Advocate Navkiran singh informed SikhSiyasat Network that Barrister Parminder Singh Saini firstly, completed his graduation, while he was in Pakistan Jail and thereafter on his release in 1994, had entered Canada in 1995 and had obtained the degree of B.A.(Hons) from York University, Toronto Canada and thereafter did his law from University of Windsor, Ontario Canada and was a student of Masters of law , when abruptly he was deported from Toronto Canada to New Delhi India on 27 January 2010. There was no occasion or reason for the Canadian authorities to have deported him in view of his excellent educational career, which disclosed that he was an asset to the society and could not by any stretch of imagination could not be considered to be a security risk to Canada or India.
He added that the manner in which Barrister Saini has been treated by the Indian Government also raises important questions, as to whether the claims of the Indian Government that it wants people who had once sought alienation from the Indian nation, to join the mainstream are hollow claims or the Indian government is sincere in its claims.
“Our organization takes strong notice of the fact that Barrister Parminder Singh was not allowed access to his lawyer or his relatives for atleast 4 hours after his arrival at the Delhi airport and his relatives only could meet him in the morning, i.e. after 14 hours of his landing in Delhi.” says the Statement.
LFHRI has claimed that invoking of National Security Act in this case is a total abuse of powers by the Indian Government, as Barrister Parminder Singh Saini is no security risk to the India’s security. ‘Our organization would expect that he would be released immediately.’ said Navkiran Singh.
Tagged with: Indian State, LFHRI
As soon as parminder landed at Delhi his plane was surrounded by 50 to 60 commandos and SWAT headed by Delhi ACP Ravi Shankar. As parminder tried to get out of plane he heard a shout from one on the officer quote” come down a..s h…e now we will baptize you” ” neeche aa ga..du abh tujhe amrit peeliange” means that give you urine to drink.
Then one of the officer tried to grab him and parminder asked him on what grounds they are arresting him and giving this treatment he has no pending case in India. Then officer told him that they are booking him under NSA. Canadian official expressed their shock to the authorities and asked them to stay calm.
But he was taken away with in minutes in a jeep to local police station and kept in a filthiest room where shit was still stuck to the toilet room was full of foul smell. All night he was in that room and served with 35 to 40 pages of charge sheet.
In the morning he was taken to Tihar Jail and kept in Max. security cell with closed circuit cameras. He ws not allowed to meet the relatives for 32 hrs. The relatives met him for 45 mins and he described all this drama.
His room in the jail is also filthy and asked for new bed sheets, pillow covers and comforter. I don’t know if authorities will allow that.
Next meeting is on Tuesday. Canada violated rights of a true refugee and acted against humanity to give such a treatment to person who wanted to live peacefully with family.
He described this treatment in advance to the judge Mosley and Judge Mosley asked what evidence he has, that he will get this treatment. Parminder had described in detail the treatment meted to others in similar circumstances in India. But judge Mosely did not give any credence to it.
We must expose the the atrocities of both Indian and Canadian Govts.
I am a close friend of Parminder and have first hand knowledge of his case.
The [...] parminder must pay the full amount of his crime [...]. May he stay forever in the [...] house of his [...] nightmare.
Is it possible to get in touch with the Canada border agents who escorted Parminder and who expressed shock at his treatment by the Indian agents? Perhaps they can tell the story so that it can be relayed first hand to the Canadian media here.
I understand under the NSA he could be held indefinitely without charges. Is there any fear of physical torture i.e. electric shocks to genitals and other parts of the anatomy? Can someone who is in touch with the family update his situation as relayed by him during the brief meetings that he is allowed with his family? who is going to be his lawyer? does he have one yet? what are the chances of him being released after the indians do their debriefing or investigations? Please up date!!