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| Vishwamitra Tandon |
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (5/27/16) – The Punjabi American Heritage Society of Yuba City and various Sikh Temples in California are honoring renowned journalist Vishwa Mitra Tandon in multiple ceremonies this weekend and coming week. This year Mr. Tandon is the winner of the annual heroism award by the Punjabi American Heritage society. Last year this same award was given to U.S police officer Brian Murphy; who had been shot multiple times in the line of duty when he responded to a racist attack in on peaceful worshippers at Oak Creek Sikh Temple, Wisconsin.
Mr. Tandon was recently recognized by his peers for his courageous reporting of the 1991 murders of eleven innocent civilians (Sikhs) by police officers in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India. His relentless investigative reporting spanning more than two decades directly led to the indictment of 57 police officers in 1995, 47 of whom were convicted and sentenced on 4/4/2016.
On July 12, 1991, a bus carrying Sikh pilgrims was intercepted by the UP Police. Eleven Sikh youths were dragged out and killed in cold blood in three fake encounters. Mr. Tandon refused to believe the all-too-common police story that the boys were terrorists. He resisted immense political pressure and threats to his personal safety to bring the truth and fact to the light. He developed witness testimony confirming that the young innocent Sikhs had been murdered as part of a wide-spread program of terror by the government at that time against Sikhs.
On 5/29/16 at 11:30pm, Mr. Tandon will be honored at the Sacramento Sikh Temple Gurdwara (2301 Evergreen St., West Sacramento, CA, 95691).
On 5/29/16 at 4 pm, Congressman John Garamendi and Assembly member John Gallagher will present an award to Mr. Tandon at the Punjabi American Heritage Society Festival/Mela (Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, 442 Franklin Ave, Yuba City, CA 95991)
On 6/05/2016 at noon, San Jose Gurdwara, San Jose, CA
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