B.C. Sikh anti-abuse campaign yields 2,000 signatures in Vancouver

Daljit Singh Bittu

LARISSA CAHUTE, VANCOUVERDESI.COM

The Canadian Sikh Coalition is demanding action against the brutal torture of prisoners in India.

An awareness campaign for two “well-known members of the Sikh community,” Daljit Singh (Bittu) and Kulbir Singh Barpinder, who are imprisoned in India, yielded about 2,000 signatures on a petition within Vancouver alone on Sunday.

The two men were arrested in Punjab on September 21.

“Immediately within the first week of their arrest (there was) news of third degree torture including electric shocks being applied to both the men that were arrested,” said Canadian Sikh Coalition (CSC) spokesman, Moninder Singh. “Both men reported that electric shocks and beatings with sticks and rods have been used against them.”

The campaign reached beyond Vancouver, with petition signing  in cities across Canada and the United States.

According to Singh, there are a number of torture methods used in Indian prisons, like roller pins across the thighs to crush muscles and beatings to the soles of the feet and back of the knees.

So the CSC and a number of supporters are taking it upon themselves to fight against this “draconian law within the Indian state.”

“It’s an issue that has a deep underlying impact on the rest of the world,” said Singh.

And as Canadians – especially those living in Vancouver, where a large Sikh population resides – we need to be the voice of the voiceless, he said.

“Canada is important because we pride ourselves in being a champion in human rights across the world,” said Singh. “It gives us a platform as Canadians to voice our concerns for other people.”

Bittu and Barpinder are both associated with Sikh political parties and youth activist groups advocating for more rights, according to Singh.

In a First Information Report released by the police to the Times of India, officials wrote that representatives of the two men “met at Surrey in Canada in the second week of September, where they planned to revive terrorist activities in the country.”

But according to the Times of India, the FIR doesn’t mention seizures of any explosive materials at Bittu’s residence.

“It’s completely false,” said Singh. “There’s no proof of a lot of these things that come out.”

“Neither of them have stepped foot in Canada” because they’ve been imprisoned for the past 17 years – but never convicted of any of the charges against them.

“(They’ve been arrested) because their views don’t align with the views of the state itself,” said Singh. “Now anybody voicing any type of opinion – the central government, it’s cracking down, so not even  dialogue can be had anymore.”

He equated the men’s views to that of the Bloc Quebecois and separatist parties.

“They wouldn’t be thrown in prison for it (here),” he said. “There’s actual dialogue over their concern.”

The CSC is demanding evidence and raising awareness for prisoners of conscience like Bittu and Barpinder in attempt to protect them from torture.

Singh is aiming for enough signatures to bring it forward to the UN or Canadian government, so they can at least ensure these men are safe in prison.

“Sometimes it takes a government hand to make another government listen,” he said.

A second petition signing will be taking place on Sunday at the Gurdwara Sahib Dhasmesh Darbar in Surrey.

lcahute@theprovince.com

twitter.com/larissacahute

sabha dhesi says:

October 5, 2012 at 1:07 pm

satnam

Ted says:

October 4, 2012 at 8:07 am

This is Vancouver News or India News ?almost all your news are like this ?

ed says:

October 3, 2012 at 8:07 pm

i would never sign it – fight this fight in india