M A I N   N E W S

‘Harpreet was often beaten’
From Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 25 — “Bibi Jagir Kaur would often abuse and beat Harpreet for her friendship with me and threaten to eliminate both of us.”

This revelation was made by Kamaljit, alias Tinku, boyfriend of Harpreet Kaur, daughter of the SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, who died under mysterious circumstances a few days ago.

Kamaljit is in a state of shock after having read news of the death of his “beloved” in newspapers. According to his parents, he refused to accept that Harpreet, alias Rosy, was dead in the beginning.

In an interview with this correspondent at a village on the periphery of the city, Kamaljit alleged that quarrels were common between Harpreet and her mother as the latter refused to accord recognition to their friendship and was dead set against their marriage till April 11 when she finally gave her assent after a talk with him at the residence of Ms Dalwinder Kaur Raipur, the Phagwara-based sister-in-law of Mr Paramjit Singh Raipur, an Akali leader and a confidant of Bibi Jagir Kaur.

“During our meeting, initially Bibi Jagir Kaur was adamant in her stand and kept threatening that she would get us both killed. At this, Harpreet asked me to leave the place immediately. But I did not heed to her suggestion as I feared we would not be allowed to meet again. And my apprehension turned to be true. After April 11 she was not allowed to even make a phone call at my residence,” alleged a traumatised Kamaljit.

He said all that was told to him by Bibi Jagir Kaur and Mr Paramjit Singh Raipur was that Harpreet was not well and, hence, could not talk to anybody. He said he did not believe that Harpreet had died a natural death.

“I suspect that Harpreet and her baby have been killed. Probably, the Bibi could not tolerate her daughter marrying the son of a poor farmer,” he lamented.

Kamaljit revealed that Harpreet virtually remained in the custody of Ms Dalwinder Kaur Raipur for more than 20 days from March 19 till her death on April 21. “As I was worried, I called up Bibi at around 9.30 p.m. on March 19 from a PCO at Begowal village. She assured me that there was no reason for worry as Harpreet was well except for some minor health problem,” said Kamaljit alleging that Ms Dalwinder Kaur had also threatened the “lovers” during this period.

Kamaljit said the Bibi sent a police party from the Begowal police station to fetch “love letters” and photographs of the couple. He confessed that he was a frequent visitor to the Sector 39 residence of the Bibi in Chandigarh. This was known to her security guards.

“The Bibi had objection to our meeting there and had advised us against it”, Kamaljit said. He said there was a grave threat to the lives of his family members.

“I am here, but I have come to know that my sisters back home are being pressurised by police and civil officials to reveal our whereabouts”, he said.

Mr Darshan Singh and Mrs Balwinder Kaur, parents of Kamaljit, demanded security by a central force as they feared that a bid might be made on their lives. They also demanded an inquiry into the death of Harpreet by a sitting High Court judge or by the CBI. “We have no faith in the Punjab police,” they said.

According to sources, senior police officials held closed-door meetings with Bibi Jagir Kaur at her “dera” in Begowal village in Kapurthala district today.

Those who visited the Bibi were Mr Iqbal Singh, SSP, Kapurthala, and the Additional District Magistrate, Mr S.S. Bains. But Mr Iqbal Singh said both officers had gone to the “dera” to make security arrangements for the visit of VVIPs in the wake of Harpreet’s bhog on April 27.

Mr Iqbal Singh denied he had received a formal complaint about Harpreet’s death, but said he would initiate necessary action if he received a complaint in this regard.