JALANDHAR: Upset over the silence of the government in redressing the prisoners' issues and apprehensive over the life of Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, who is fasting for the last 35 days demanding release of Sikh detainees who have completed tehri jail terms, Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has knocked on the doors of Amnesty International urging it to intervene without delay.
The organization has written a letter to the Director of the
Amnesty International, whose mandate is protection of prisoners rights to
initiate a campaign not only for the release of the six detainees whose release
is sought by Gurbaksh Singh through his hunger strike, but also to save his
"precious" life
Dal Khalsa president H S Dhami and spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said while Gurbakash Singh had steadfastly maintained his grit and determination despite falling health, the Indian state seemed to be waiting in the wings to either let him die or to force-feed him as they did some days back.
The three-page letter sent to Amnesty's London office further stated that the government of Punjab continued to pay lip service and express sympathy without waking up from deep slumber. "It is a classic case of lethargic executive insomnia and nonchalance," they added. Gurbaksh Singh is fasting to death since November 14, at Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Mohali, seeking the release of six Sikh prisoners who have not been released despite serving their sentences.
The Dal Khalsa leaders has sent a prisoners' bio-sheet to Amnesty detailing the status report of Gurmeet Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Shamsher Singh (all in Burial jail), Gurdeep Singh (Karnataka jail), Lal Singh (case with Gujarat government) and Waryam Singh (Uttar Pradesh jail).