Jaspal Singh Gurdaspur
Bhai Jaspal Singh, a 17 year old Sikh and one among Sikhs who were peacefully protesting for acceptance of clemency in Balwant Singh Rojoana Case at Gurdaspur, was killed by Punjab Police in open firing in Gurdaspur. He is acclaimed as martyr by several Sikh Organizations for his contribution to Sikhism for standing against tyranny and lost his life.
Clash in Gurdaspur
A tension rose between Shiv Sena activists and Sikh youths. Shiv Sainiks had given a call for Gurdaspur bandh on 29th March, were protesting against the registration of cases against 14 Hindus following a scuffle during Punjab bandh on 28th March 2012. The police opened fire in air to disperse the mob in Hanuman Chowk in the heart of the border town which lead to killing of this sikh youth.
Shiv Sena is a right-wing organization in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Bal Thackeray and is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray.
AISSF Seeks potrait of Jaspal at Sikh Museum
All India Sikh Students Federation today urged Akal Takht to declare the youth killed in alleged police firing during a communal clash at Gurdaspur as "nation's hero" and install his portrait in Sikh museum. AISSF president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammed said the Akal Takht should accord the status of "nation's hero" to 18-year- old engineering student Jaspal Singh, who died after police resorted to firing to control the clash between right-wing Hindu activists and Sikhs at Gurdaspur yesterday. He also demanded that Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee should announce Rs 25 lakh as financial relief to the family of Singh and provide free education to his sister.
Shiv Sainiks had given a bandh call in Gurdaspur in the wake of registration of cases against some persons following clashes during Punjab bandh the day before. During the bandh most of the establishments owned by Hindus were closed, whereas those belonging to Sikhs were open. Resisting the move of Sikhs, the right-wing Hindu activists had clashed with them.
The AISSF also demanded a ban on Shiv Sena in Punjab.
Meanwhile, in view of the tense situation prevailing in Gurdaspur, police patrolling have been further intensified in most parts of Punjab. Flag marches were conducted in sensitive areas to create confidence among law abiding citizens, officials said. PTI CORR VJ
Gurdaspur SSP, DSP suspended for firing , DC transfered
Standoff between the Gurdaspur district administration and parents between Gurdaspur District administration and family members of Jaspal Singh, student of Beant College of Engineering, who was killed in police firing ended on Saturday evening with the government ordering suspension of Gurdaspur SSP Varinder Paul Singh and DSP Manpreet singh and transferred Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth.
Talking to Punjab Newsline ADGP (Law and Order) S. K. Sharma said on Saturday with the suspension of the SSP and DSP and transfer of DC , the parents of Jaspal Singh and Sikh organisation had agreed for cremation of the body. Sharma said the body of Jaspal Singh was cremated after Sikh organisations agreed for cremation following the government action against the SSP and DSP and the DC.
While the parents of the deceased backed by leaders of various Sikh organisation were refusing to cremated the body till their three demands were met which included suspension of Gurdaspur SSP, criminal cases against DSP and ASI who had ordered firing and arrest of 14 Shiv Sena activists, who were involved in violence during the bandh in Gurdaspur which was called to protest against death penalty to Balwant Singh Rajoana . on March 28 .However, the curfew in thecity continued for the third day on Saturday with uneasy calm prevailing in the city the cremation could take place only after the government conceded to the demands of Sikh organisations Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Mohinder Singh Kainth assured parents of Jaspal Singh and leaders of the Sikh organsiations gathered at Sidwan village native place of Jaspal singh, the protesters said they would allow cremation of the body only if the government showed them the written orderes of the government conceding their demands.
While Akal Takh chief Jathedar Gurcharan Singh, Damdami Taksal Head Baba Harnam singh and leaders of other various Sikh organisations were still camping at Sidhwan village to make common cause with the aggrived family of Jaspal Singh for the second day today, they had been adamant on their three demands. The father of the deceased, Gurcharan Singh had been maintaing that the body of Jaspal Singh will not be cremated till the police officials involved in firing were not booked and the SSP was suspended.
Earlier on Friday evening ADGP Sharma, who is camping here since the firing took place had told media persons that the police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons for firing and the district administration has suspended Naib Tehsildar S. L. Salwan for mishandling the situation which led to firing the Sikh organisations have also been demanding arrest of 12 Shiv Sena activists who were involved in violence on March 28, Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Mohinder Singh said, cremation took place after he held meeting with holding meeting with parents of the devised and Sikh organisation leaders gathered at Sidhwan village to persuade them for early cremation of body of Jaspal Singh as the body was likely to decompose to rising temptations during the day , the parents of the deceased and Sikh organisations felt satisfied by the Government action against guilty cops involved in firing .
ADGP Sharma said while the curfew was relaxed on Saturday morning for two hour the curfew will continue till there was peace till law and ordered situation improved in the city.
Gurdaspur firing victim a 'Sikh martyr': Akal Takht
The Akal Takht has decided to declare engineering student and Gurdaspur police firing victim Jaspal Singh as a martyr of the Sikh 'nation'. His portrait will also be installed in the Sikh museum. Jaspal was killed in police firing on March 29 to control the spiralling of violence between two communities.
Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh will make this announcement at the bhog and antim ardas of Jaspal on April 7 at his native village, Chour Sidhwan.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar will also announce free MTech level education to the only sister of Jaspal Singh.
All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) chief Karnail Singh Peer Mohammed has claimed that this decision was taken at the Chour Sidhwan village, when the Akal Takht jathedar consulted former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Jasbir Singh Rode and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh. These, along with other leaders, have been camping at the village.
Peer Mohammed has appealed to Makkar to announce a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Jaspal at the bhog ceremony.
