BBC News – Sikhs protest in London over India death penalty

Saturday, 6 April 2013. A group of UK-based Sikhs have protested outside the Houses of Parliament as part of a campaign to end the death penalty in India.

Members of Kesri Lehar condemn the death sentences imposed on four Sikhs, including one convicted for the assassination of an Indian politician.

The BBC’s Robert Pigott says the threat of execution is seen by some Sikhs as a key part of oppression against them.

India’s High Commission says use of the death penalty is valid under its laws.

Saturday’s protest, organised by campaign group Kesri Lehar, aimed to draw attention to the fate of Bulwant Singh Rajoana, who was sentenced to death in 2007 for his role in the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh, the chief minister of Punjab state, in India.

According to BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott, he has become a potent symbol to many Sikhs of what they claim has been a campaign of oppression against them, and of their call for an independent Sikh homeland in Punjab.

‘Demonstrations planned’

However, our correspondent says that one leading academic has warned the continuing demonstrations focused on conditions in Punjab could alienate young Sikhs and undermine the creation of a well integrated British Sikh identity.

But he adds that the Sikh Council has denied the widespread interest in Punjab threatens the community’s excellent record of integration.

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in London said the death penalty had been challenged repeatedly, but had been found by the Supreme Court to be valid under the country’s constitution.

Beant Singh was killed on 31 August 1995, along with 17 others by a suicide bomber identified as Dilawar Singh.

Rajoana was convicted of acting as a back-up suicide bomber should Singh have failed.

Rajoana – whose hanging was postponed by Indian officials in March 2012 – has not appealed against his sentence.

Executions are comparatively rare in India where hundreds of convicts are awaiting the death penalty.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving attacker from the 2008 Mumbai attack, was executed in November 2012, while Kashmiri militant Afzal Guru was hanged in February.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22049228

Sikh News Discussion – Latest news on the assault on Lieutenant-General Kuldip Singh Brar

Posted by Harmander Singh <harmanders@btinternet.com>

For your information

[A] Barjinder Singh Sangha, 33 (25/3/79) of Wolverhampton;
[C] Mandeep Singh Sandhu, 34 (30/4/78) of Great Barr, Birmingham.
appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 8 Oct. 2012 charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on Lieutenant-General Kuldip Singh Brar, 78 (29.9.34) in Old Quebec Street W1 on 30 September 2012.
[A] was also charged with common assault on Meena Brar.

[R] Dilbag Singh [5.1.76 - 36 ys] of no fixed abode appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 23 November 2012 charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on Lieutenant-General Kuldip Singh Brar.
They were remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 18 January 2013 for a Plea and Case Management Hearing.

On 18 January 2013 [A] pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Sentencing for this was adjourned until the conclusion of the trial of [C] and [R].

[A] entered a not guilty plea to the charge of common assault on Meena Brar.

[C] and [R] entered a not guilty plea and will stand trial at Southwark Crown Court on 2 April 2013.

All three remain remanded in custody.

[F] Harjit Kaur [9/4/74 - 38 ys] of Hayes, Middx., appears at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in custody on Friday 8 February 2013 charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on Lieutenant-General Kuldip Singh Brar in Old Quebec Street W1 on 30 September 2012.

All other persons who were on police bail re. this inquiry have been released with no further action.

To read my comments on the case go to :

523. The Man in Blue – Lieutenant General (retired) Kuldip Singh Brar

Special to The Tribune – Protests spread as NRIs in UK plan rallies

Shyam Bhatia in London

UK-based NRIs are planning a continuing series of protest rallies in solidarity with the family of the Delhi rape victim who died in a Singapore hospital.

Sunday night’s planned demonstration at Hounslow Heath, close to London’s Heathrow airport, was being organised by a former Delhi police inspector, Darshan Singh Grewal, whose family originate from Ludhiana.

Grewal served for 10 years in the Delhi police force before leaving for the UK in 1990. He is currently an elected member of the Hounslow local council. Grewal, who also once represented India in national basketball, said he was saddened and sickened by what had happened in Delhi.

“We will continue the protests, we will continue putting pressure on the Indian government”, he told The Tribune.

Grewal was also a participant in the first NRI rally held last Saturday when demonstrators gathered next to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Tavistock Square, central London, before marching to the nearby office of the Indian High Commission.

A letter submitted to the High Commission for onward transmission to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh read: “We as concerned citizens of India are deeply saddened by the news of the 23-year-old medical student who was brutally gang raped and assaulted in Delhi last week. Sir, we non-resident Indians staying in the United Kingdom have gathered near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Tavistock Square, London, and signed this petition to request of India the following:

1. Introduce strict laws against rapists.

2. Introduce the fast track courts to resolve sexual assault cases.”

A High Commission official who accepted the letter responded by saying: “I also mourn for the demise of the lady and feel the same as everyone in the protest. The letter will be delivered to the PM’s office.” Saturday’s march was organised by the Pravasi Bharat organisation which has campaigned in the past for NRIs to use a postal ballot in future Indian elections.

The head of Pravasi Bharat, 31-year-old IT consultant Nagender Chindam, told The Tribune: “Even though we are staying abroad, it doesn’t mean we are unconcerned. We too want the nation to flourish and be a happy, peaceful place. That’s why we have showed our concern.”

Chindam, originally from Hyderabad, added: “A lot of our volunteers are waiting for a reply to the letter. Otherwise we will plan more protests and next time outside the High Commission office. All we can assure you is that we will not give up.”

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121231/main1.htm#4

Visit to the UK : Bristol & Gloucester 27/09 till 02/10 2012

Sint-Truiden – Brussel Zuid – St Pancras – Baker Street – Paddington – Bristol Parkway
27 September 2012

Baker Street – Metropolitan Line
New rolling stock

Baker Street – Metropolitan Line
New rolling stock

Bakerstreet – Bakerloo & Jubilee lines
Down the stairs for the Bakerloo to Paddington

Paddington Station
Crossrail is hiding behind this door !

Paddington – Heathrow Express and First Great Western

To see more UK Trains, Underground and Buses pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157611244941713/

More London and Bristol pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

 

523. The Man in Blue – Lieutenant General (retired) Kuldip Singh Brar

As I am now in the Amsterdam Guru Nanak Gurdwara and am not rushing from one meeting to the other, I have time to write a Man in Blue Column about the ‘assault’ on Lieutenant General (retired) Kuldip Singh Brar.

In writing this I have put myself in the position of one of the accused and assumed that this person was both guilty and intelligent.

“I stand here accused of assaulting lieutenant general (retired) Kuldip Singh Brar and I admit that I am guilty and should undergo the appropriate punishment.

This statement explains why I assaulted an old man on holiday in the UK. It is not a plea for clemency, which would be unworthy for a Sikh.

In June 1984 the general was ordered by the Indira Gandhi government to attack the Harmandr Sahib complex. I do not know the specifics of his order but the explanation given at the time was that there were about 50 terrorists in the complex. Whether his orders were to eliminate these terrorists, or whether he had to try and arrest them and bring them to justice I do not know.

The known fact is that the Harmandr Sahib complex was attacked on the day when many Sikhs went there from the early morning to commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Arjan on the 30th of May 1606. The result was that at least 1000 people were killed and not just the 50 alleged terrorists.

I am willing to concede that there were not 50 but maybe up to 100 alleged terrorists in the Harmandr Sahib complex. I also understand that during an operation on this scale some civilians are bound to find themselves in the line of fire, and become what are sometimes called collateral victims.

But the general and his men killed at least one thousand people during the operation, and he was never held responsible for killing 900 innocent visitors to Harmandr Sahib on the 6th of June 1984.

The general said that he acted on orders, but if you carry out criminal orders you are a criminal yourself, as the post World War II Nurnberg trials made clear.

The general is guilty of ‘war crimes’, but he never appeared in court. The Indira Gandhi government ordered the general to commit ‘war crimes’ and did not appear in court either.

Those that were responsible for the mass killings of Sikhs at the end of October and beginning of November 1984 are still walking free, and some of these are even part of the present Indian government, which has a Sikh prime minister.

But I will be tried and receive my due punishment, as I should.“

A statement like this would make headlines. But will these assaulters of the retired lieutenant general be mice or men ? Will they be ruled by anger or by wisdom ?

The Hindu – Two more held over attack on General Brar

Hasan Suroor

London, 23 November 2012. Two more persons, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the murderous attack on Lt. General (retired) K.S. Brar in central London two months ago.

Police did not disclose their names or nationalities, identifying them only as “R” (36) and “S” (55), both from London.

The man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, and the woman on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Two men — Barjinder Singh Sangha (33) and Mandeep Singh Sandhu (34) — have already been charged with “wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm” to General Brar and are to stand trial. Sangha is also charged with “common assault” on General Brar’s wife, Meena, who was with him when the attack took place.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/two-more-held-over-attack-on-general-brar/article4124075.ece

Sikh Federation – UK Sikh organizations believe attack on KS Brar was a staged attack

Jaskaran Singh, Pardes Weekly

London, 10 October 2012. While the British Police continues their efforts to round up all those involved in the knifing attack on Lt Gen KS Brar, discussion in UK is dominated by questions about the real motives of those behind the attack.

Many Sikh organisations in the UK say they have deliberately not issued any official statements so far as they wanted the Metropolitan Police to fully investigate the assault on Lt General (Retd.) Brar on Sunday 30 September 2012 in London without any interference and as the Sikh community is law abiding and recognises its wider public responsibilities.

The Sikh Federation (UK) believes that the Brar affair was a “false flag” operation, to gain political mileage by India’s ruling party and to defame Sikhs, who are garnering tremendous support to push 1984 Sikh genocide motion , across globe and the support they garnered after the Wisconsin shooting episode.

In a release, the SF-UK said, there has been constant irresponsible and sensational media reporting in India and premature statements from Indian politicians for the last ten days, since the minor assault on Brar. The assault left him with what appear to be superficial scratches covered by sticky plasters, following an altercation that probably lasted no more than a couple of minutes.

Although Brar appears to have been slightly roughed up and left with a few scratches the 78-year old miraculously appears to have received no visible bruising or black eyes let alone any life threatening injuries, as he has claimed and has been reported in the Indian media, although four men were supposedly involved in the assault.

In fact he was well enough to be discharged from hospital within a few hours and return to India less than 48 hours after the so-called life threatening knife attack. These facts have not been lost on the lawyers representing those who have been charged, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service.

The organization also raised questions about difference in statements made by Brar and his wife. Brar’s wife told NDTV `We cannot say if they were Sikh’ and yet Brar within 24 hours was claiming they were not only Sikhs, but those sympathetic towards an independent Sikh homeland. Former Indian army Lt General(Retd.) P.N. Hoon contradicted Brar the following day by saying the attackers would have achieved their target if it had been a well-planned attempt.

‘I don’t think this is too planned an attack because if it was too planned an attack then I would have been very sad because they would have really achieved their target’.

The Federation also feels that the Metropolitan Police, Royal Parks Agency, Greater London Authority and Westminster Council have all praised the impeccable behaviour of Sikhs, but the Indian regime will try all sorts of tactics to try and marginalise Sikhs.

The release also said that many in the Sikh community are of the view that Indian government interference and pressure on the authorities in the UK has led to the unnecessary arrest and questioning of many innocent Sikhs in London last Friday who they believe are not associated in any way with the minor attack on Brar.

The Sikh organization also demanded that Brar be refused entry to the UK as a preventative measure in future and the Sikh Federation (UK) will be taking up this matter with UK politicians, including Ministers, in the next few weeks.

Another organization Dal Khalsa UK, also issued a statement claiming that the assassination attempt on Lt-General (retd) KS Brar in London on September 30 was “staged” by India’s external espionage agency, Research & Analysis Wing (RAW).

The Hindu – One more held in Lt General K S Brar attack case

Hasan Suroor

London, 11 October 2012.  Police on Wednesday said one more person had been arrested in connection with the attack on Lieutenant-General (retired) K. S. Brar in London on September 30, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 14.

“A 29-year-old man was arrested at a residential address in the West Midlands on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He currently remains in custody,” Scotland Yard said in a statement without disclosing his name or nationality.

So far, only two men — Barjinder Singh Sangha (33) and Mandeep Singh Sandhu (34) — have been charged.

The specific charge against them is wounding General Brar “with intent to do grievous bodily harm.”

Mr. Sangha is also charged with “common assault” on General Brar’s wife, Meena, who was roughed up when she tried to intervene.

The two were produced in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court here and remanded in custody to appear in the Southwark Crown Court on December 7.

Eleven others have been released on bail.

As the investigations continued, police again appealed for information and asked for witnesses to come forward.

General Brar (78) was attacked by four men, whom he described as “Khalistani sympathisers,” when he and his wife were returning to their hotel in Oxford Street after dinner on the night of September 30.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/one-more-held-in-brar-attack-case/article3985231.ece

The Tribune – Pro-Khalistan elements tried to kill me: Lt General Brar

Ajay Banerjee, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 2. Even as Lt General K S Brar (retd), who was attacked in London on Sunday, termed it as an attempt to kill him, Indian security agencies are searching for answers to know how the attackers got to know of the travel plans of the General, who is under ‘Z category’ security.

General Brar, who was divisional commander of the 9 Division of the Army that was tasked with flushing out militants holed up in the Golden Temple in 1984 under ‘Operation Bluestar’, has been on the ‘hit-list’ of Sikh radical groups.

General Brar told reporters in London, “It was an assassination attempt by pro-Khalistan elements. They straight went for my neck with a sharp blade.” He said there have been several threats to his life and those had been brought to the notice of the police and army authorities in India.

For security agencies, the attack on means that the General, usually reclusive, was possibly being observed and also that someone inimical to him knew his location in London. It could also mean he was being tracked in India and London, said sources, adding that the Ministry of Home Affairs was waiting for a factual report from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

General Brar said the Punjab Government was sympathetic to terrorists as it was supporting construction of a memorial inside the Golden Temple and slammed it for taking the situation back to the 1980’s.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard has appealed for information from members of the public and described the four assailants as wearing dark clothing and long black jackets and sporting long beards.

Looking for answers

How did the attackers get to know the travel plans of Lt General K S Brar ?

It seems that he was being observed and someone knew his exact location in London. Was he being tracked in India and London?

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121003/main2.htm

Ambassador of Afghanistan in London visiting Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Southall, UK

His Excellency, Honourable Dr Daud Yaar, Incoming Ambassador of Afghanistan in London along with Mr Najibullah Mohajer, First Secretary Political Affairs visiting Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Southall (UK).

The Ambassador with community leaders

London, 26th Aug 2012 – His Excellency Honourable Dr Daud Yaar, Incoming Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, along with Mr Najibullah Mohajer, First Secretary Political Affairs in London visiting Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Southall (UK) today.

Dr Yaar addressed the congregation in Dari and assured to provide all necessary consular assistance to Afghan Minorities diaspora outside the country, as well as to the small minorities residing currently in Afghanistan. The Gurdwara Management honoured His Excellency and his First Secretary – Najibullah Mohajer by giving them a Siropa – The Sikh Robe of Honour.

Siropa is a term adopted from Persian sar-o-pa (head and foot) or sarapa (head to foot) meaning an honorary dress.

During his visit, Ambassador Dr Yaar thanked the congregation and spoke about the diversity and on-going reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. We were very much impressed with his humble & down to earth nature which we notice while having a customary, Afghan style, traditional tea (Kawa Cha/Chai Sabz) with His Excellency Ambassador Dr Daud Yaar.

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Southall has been established by Sikhs from Afghanistan who settled in Britain after fleeing their country due to civil war and political unrest.

Sadh sangat

Pritpal Singh, author of this article and of the pictures, receives siropa

We are campaigning against returning Afghan Sikh refugees to their country from Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK