Desecration of Sikh turban by Punjab Police

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Sikh's turban removed by Punjab police on March 28, 2011

All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has demanded today the resignation from Parkash Singh Badal over the disturbing incident in Mohali, state of Punjab ruled by Akali Dal (Badal), when a young Sikh man’s turban was forcibly removed in broad day light by a police officer on the orders of another senior officer of Punjab Police.

"This is an insult to the Sikh Gurus and the whole of the Sikh community. It is a gross violation of a Sikh's human rights and the simple requirement for the respect of one's right to a unfettered religious, family and private life", said Surjit Singh, chairperson of Sikh Rights, a UK Sikh Human Rights group.

According to Karnail Singh Peermohammad, President AISSF, Mohali incident proves that SAD (Badal and his political associates) have not only failed to protect the dignity of Sikh articles of faith but they are also engaged in intentional desecration of Sikh turban.


This is a public insult of all Sikhs

Deliberate and gross violation of a Sikh's right by Punjab police

The incident took place on March 28, 2011 when pharmacists from Punjab exercising their fundamental right gathered in Mohali for a peaceful sit-in to high light their demands. Punjab police on the orders of Badal Government first cane charged the gathering in which women were beaten mercilessly by Punjab Police.

Not satisfied after beating the women, senior officers of Punjab Police then ordered the police to forcibly remove turbans of Sikhs who were present in the gathering. A footage with audio and video clearly showing a Sikh police officer order another police officer to forcibly remove a Sikh’s turban has emerged.

According to Peermohammad, forcibly removing the turban of a Sikh by the Punjab Police is insult of Sikh religion and Parkash Singh Badal as head of Punjab Government should take the legal and moral responsibility of Punjab Police’s action and should resign.

The current SGPC leadership which propagates itself to be protector of Sikh rights and has met foreign governments over the issue of turban frisking should also resign from their seats for maintaining criminal silence over the outrageous desecration of Sikh religious symbol by Punjab Police, added Peermohammad.

AISSF appealed all Panthic Parties to meet on April 14, 2011 to chalk out a unanimous plan to protect the dignity and respect of Sikh articles of faith which is under by present Punjab government with the connivance of SGPC.

Punjab Police a "Terrorist Organization"

Sikhs for Justice have vowed to Campaign to Declare Punjab Police as "Terrorist Organization”. In an article in the Sikh Times they have stated:

In a disturbing incident in Mohali, a young Sikh man’s turban was forcibly removed in broad day light by a police officer on the orders of another senior officer of Punjab Police. The incident proves that SAD (Badal) have not only failed to protect the dignity of Sikh articles of faith but they are also engaged in intentional desecration of Sikh turban.

The incident took place on March 28, 2011 when pharmacists from Punjab exercising their fundamental right gathered in Mohali for a peaceful sit-in to high light their demands. Punjab police on the orders of Badal Government first cane charged the gathering in which women were beaten mercilessly by Punjab Police. Not satisfied after beating the women, senior officers of Punjab Police then ordered the police to forcibly remove turbans of Sikhs who were present in the gathering.

A footage with audio and video clearly showing a Sikh police officer order another police officer to forcibly remove a Sikh’s turban has emerged. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONYV8hUKN3Y) According to human rights lawyer and legal advisor to SJF Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, forcibly removing the turban of a Sikh is the worst form of religious persecution and violation of Sikh human rights, especially when it takes place in Punjab, the homeland of Sikhs under the government headed by a Sikh.

Support SFJ and AISSF: Community asked to stay calm

Disgraceful conduct by Punjab police


Concerned with the growing slogans of revenge for Mohali incident vocalized on the web, SFJ coordination committee appealed to the Sikh community not to take law into their hands and instead support SFJ and AISSF in perusing legal course of action over the Mohali incident.

SFJ will approach the governments of United States, Canada and European Union to declare Punjab Police as a “terrorist organization” for the recent incidents of torture in custody, extra judicial killings and blatant desecration of Sikh articles of faith in Mohali, all of which establish a practice and policy of Punjab Police of violating Sikh human rights.

Two cops suspended for removing Sikh’s turban

Punjab suspends two cops for removing protester’s turban


Turban trouble has hit the Punjab government with two gazetted officers of Punjab police, including an SP and SHO, being suspended for allegedly removing the turban of a pharmacist-protester during a rally near the PCA stadium on March 28.

The cops who have been suspended on Wednesday were Mohali Superintendent of Police (SP) - Detective Pritam Singh and Phase VIII Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Kul Bhushan. A magisterial probe has also been ordered. Police sources said the incident took place during a protest near the PCA stadium in Mohali on March 28, 2011 when one of the protester put up the act of cops on a social networking site.

The incident triggered a controversy for the Punjab government, which had been protesting the removal of turbans in the name of frisking of Sikhs in foreign countries. The immediate suspension orders of two cops were issued by Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal.

A senior police official said there was no formal complaint against any of the cops and the state government took suo motu notice of the incident. The state government had also instructed the senior officials of Mohali police to trace the Sikh youth, whose turban was allegedly removed by the two cops.

Around 1,000 pharmacists of Punjab Rural Veterinary had staged a strong protest near the PCA stadium to focus attention on their demand for regularization.

SP, SHO suspended for ‘removing turban’

SP, SHO suspended for ‘removing turban’

Mohali Superintendent of Police (SP)-Detective Pritam Singh and Phase VIII Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Kul Bhushan were placed under suspension on Wednesday evening with immediate effect. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, suspended the police officials for allegedly “hurting the sentiments of Sikhs by removing the turban of a Sikh protester during a protest staged by retrenched rural veterinary pharmacists and class IV employees near the PCA Stadium, Mohali, on Monday”.

Taking a serious view of the incident, Sukhbir also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the “disrespect shown to the Sikh religion”.

“We will take stern action against anyone found guilty of showing disrespect to turban or any religious symbol of the Sikhs or other communities. There is absolutely zero tolerance to any such act of this nature committed by anyone, regardless of the position held by the guilty. No one will be spared in this regard,” asserted Sukhbir.

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Further News

Punjab Police officers outside the PCA Stadium, in Mohali.

Terrorist tag for Punjab Police demanded after turban incident

NEW YORK: A Sikh advocacy group has urged the US and Canada to declare Punjab Police a 'terrorist organization' after its treatment of protesting pharmacists in Mohali on Monday.

In a statement here, Sikh for Justice said when pharmacists from Punjab were exercising their fundamental right in Mohali by staging a peaceful sit-in to highlight their demands a Sikh man's turban was forcibly removed by a police officer on the orders of another senior officer of Punjab Police.

"The incident proves that the ( Shiromani Akali Dal) SAD (Badal) have not only failed to protect the dignity of Sikh articles of faith but they are also engaged in intentional desecration of the Sikh turban," the statement said.

It alleged that Punjab Police "on the orders of Badal government first cane-charged the gathering in which women were beaten mercilessly by Punjab Police. Not satisfied after beating the women, senior officers of Punjab Police then ordered the police to forcibly remove turbans of Sikhs who were present in the gathering.

"Footage with audio and video clearly showing a Sikh police officer order another police officer to forcibly remove a Sikh's turban has emerged."

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor for the SJF forcibly, said forcibly removing the turban of a Sikh is "the worst form of religious persecution and violation of Sikh human rights, especially when it takes place in Punjab, the homeland of Sikhs under the government headed by a Sikh."

The Sikh body said it will "approach the governments of the United States, Canada and European Union to declare Punjab Police as a 'terrorist organization' for the recent incidents of torture in custody, extra judicial killings and blatant desecration of Sikh articles of faith in Mohali."

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