The Tribune – ‘Saada Haq’ to be screened today

Jalandhar, May 9. Ahead of the screening of controversial film “Saada Haq” tomorrow, the Commissionerate Police today conducted checks in all multiplexes and passed orders to the respective SHOs to ensure proper deployment of adequate force.

The film was earlier banned by the state government due to apprehensions that the film based on the life of former Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara could flare up sentiments of certain communities.

ADCP-1 Naresh Dogra along with his team visited a multiplex this evening. He said that the SHO concerned and police constables would be on guard in and around the mall. Parminder Singh Bhandal, ADCP-II, he had also asked the theatre managers to ensure that they had proper private security at various corners to keep an eye on cinemagoers and frisking each of them.

R P Sharma, manager, Sarb Multiplex, said over 12 private security personnel would be on guard. “We have also been assured of proper security by the ADCP,” he said. (TNS)

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The Tribune – ‘Sadda Haq’ team meets Takht chief; Matter to be discussed by five high priests, says Jathedar Gurbachan Singh

G S Paul, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 7. Led by its producer-actor Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, the crew of banned Punjabi movie ‘Sadda Haq’ today approached the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, urging him to intervene in the matter.

The Jathedar said the issue would be deliberated upon at the next maating of the five high priests. “The opinion of the high priests will be conveyed to the SGPC for further action,” the Jathedar said. The film crew, along with members of several Sikh organisations, performed ardas at Akal Takht.

The Punjab Government has banned the film which focuses on the dark days of militancy in the state. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), that had played a key role in getting clearance from the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) last year, has now distanced itself from the matter. Dejected, filmmaker Sidhu said the ban on his film, that had been cleared by the censor board with a U/A certificate, was arbitrary.

The film’s promotional song, ‘Baghi’ , reportedly equates Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana with freedom fighters. “Since there is no problem in letting the public watch films based on the Naxalite movement, the government appears biased in banning my film which is about a minority community,” he said.

He announced that he would move the Supreme Court against the government’s decision, if nothing else worked.

“We have requested the high priests to form a committee comprising Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims to view the film for an unbiased opinion,” he said.

“It is nothing but murder of freedom of expression. The film is a true portrayal of whatever happened during the period of militancy. It is ironical that a handful of bureaucrats have given their verdict against the screening of the film on the plea that it may disturb peace and harmony. Their apprehension is totally baseless,” Sidhu added.

Anandpur Sahib: Washing his hands of the controversy, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, during his visit here on Sunday, said it was the prerogative of the state government to take a decision on whether or not to ban a film.

Makkar, who was the chief guest at an inter-state turban tying competition, said the state government had to look after law and order too.

Of the 2,000 students who participated in the ‘dastarbandi’ contest, 245 were selected for special prizes. Prabhpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Dhannupura, Amritsar, won the first prize. Gurnoor Singh of Dasmesh Model Senior Secondary School, Doraha, and Kaka Harpreet Singh of Sahibzada Fateh Singh Public School, Malerkotla, were declared first and second-runners up.

The three were awarded a cash prize of Rs 31,000, 21,000 and 11,000, respectively.

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The Tribune – Hawara acquitted in Arms Act case

Rajneesh Lakhanpal, Our Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 1. Judicial Magistrate Atul Kamboj today acquitted former Chief Minister Beant Singh assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara in an Arms Act case registered against him 16 years ago. Hawara was accused of possessing a rocket- launcher, three hand grenades, 44 pistols and 20 live cartridges.

Pronouncing the verdict, the court held that the prosecution had failed to prove that the recovered pistols were in a workable condition.

The court took serious note of the fact that when the arms were produced before the District Magistrate in a parcel, there was no rocket launcher.

The court also took note of the fact that the then Superintendent of Police (D) Shiv Kumar, before whom the accused was said to have confessed to possessing the arms, had not been produced as a witness. Hawara was booked under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act on January 4, 1996, at the Focal Point police station on the complaint of the then CIA in charge Gurmeet Singh.

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The Tribune – Beant Singh assassin Hawara attacked in Chandigarh court

Rajinder Nagarkoti, Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11. Exposing chinks in the police security of late Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassins, a group of right wing activists today attacked dreaded Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara on the premises of the district courts in Sector 17 here.

The attack occurred around 11 am while Hawara and the other convicted assassin Paramjit Singh Bheora were being escorted by a posse of the Chandigarh and Delhi police to the courtroom in connection with a Burail jailbreak case. Both convicts had been specially brought here from the Tihar Jail in New Delhi.

Eyewitnesses said just as Hawara crossed the entry gate of the court complex, Nishant Sharma, an Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti (ABHSS) activist, hit him with his head. Hawara responded by slapping Sharma. The police immediately arrested Sharma and three other ABHSS activists.

The incident was followed by Hawara and Bheora raising pro-Khalistan slogans and the ABHSS members raising patriotic slogans.

Following the attack, a large police contingent was deployed on the court premises.

Both Hawara and Bheora were then taken to the courtroom where DSP Jagbir Singh and Sub-Inspector Surinder Kumar, both from the Chandigarh Police, recorded their statements.

Hawara’s advocate Simarjit Singh was quick to term the incident as a serious breach of security along with the claim that the attack had been planned well in advance. Sector 17 police station SHO Inspector Ranjodh Singh said they had registered an FIR and arrested seven persons, including Nishant Sharma.

Incidentally, Sharma is a complainant against PS Sandhu, an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of the Punjab Police in a corruption case being investigated by the CBI.

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