The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, May 31, 2001, Chandigarh, India

M A I L B A G

Police brutality at Khanpur

SEEING the picture of a policeman pulling a protesting woman at Khanpur reaffirms the barbaric and brutal face of the Punjab Police. It will be ironic if in a nation that prides itself as a upholder of dignity of women since ancient times, such a public display of vulgarity goes unpunished. The police officer in question and the seniors who were present on the scene should be immediately suspended and punished.

It is equally heart-wrenching that none of the policemen was seen moving to help the unconscious woman.

Let the Punjab Government show its resolve to protect the rights of the protesting citizens and uphold the Fundamental Right to freedom of expression by taking immediate steps to redress the grievances of the protesters and punish the guilty.

VIVEK SHEEL, Bloomington (USA)

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

NO RULE OF LAW: After seeing the photograph published in The Tribune (May 22), we feel ashamed to call ourselves citizens of a democratic country where human values are trampled under the feet of a tyrant police.

It appears there is no rule of law in this part of the country where the ruler of the land has given powers to the police to outrage the modesty of women in full public gaze and on a national highway.

Your photographer, Manoj Mahajan, certainly deserves praise for his bold act in exposing the atrocity of the Punjab Police.

P. C. SUMAN, GULZAR MOHD, SANJEEV MANRAI, B. P. SINGLA (all advocates),
Chandigarh

IS THIS A DEMOCRACY?: The head of every citizen will hang in shame at the barbaric treatment meted out by the police of a free democratic country to peaceful demonstrators.

It is all the more heart-rending to see a young woman being dragged by men in uniform and another lying unconscious on the ground. All the despotic and inhuman policemen who re-enacted the police atrocities of the British era should be suspended to restore people’s faith in freedom and democracy.

K. L. JAITLEY, Dhara (Kulu)

BARBARIC BEHAVIOUR: The photograph is a sad commentary on the brutal, inhuman and barbaric behaviour of the Punjab Police. Whatever crime of these village women might be, the treatment meted out to them reminds one of the atrocities which might have been committed in the past by invaders like Nadar Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali. The three cops shown to be demonstrating their autocratic power need to be removed from service forthwith. Criminal proceedings should be initiated against them.

S. K. GUPTA, Patiala

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION: The manner in which the protesters on the highway were manhandled, especially women, is highly deplorable and the role of The Tribune in highlighting such acts is highly commendable. The notice issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court is also very appreciable.

D. K. VERMA, Batala

TREATED LIKE ANIMALS: The photograph depicts the pitiable condition of women, especially lower class women, who are treated like animals by men. I am sure necessary steps would be taken up by the administration so that in future people are not lathi-charged and handled brutally when they are fighting for their rights. Afterall we are independent and its our right to fight for our rights.

MANROOP KOCHAR, Bathinda

B.Ed colleges

The threat that the National Council of Teachers Education has issued to the B.Ed colleges in Himachal Pradesh (May 18) is not only unwarranted interference in the administrative powers of the State Education Department, but is also unlawful. It is deplorable that the NCTE is creating problems for the Himachal Government, whereas it keeps silent on the question of implementing its norms in Haryana.

The Director of Higher Education, Haryana, has categorically asserted that the infrastructure of a B.Ed college will solely be determined by the State Education Department and the NCTE has no legal jurisdiction in deciding the pattern of staff. Accordingly the B.Ed colleges in Haryana have not been allowed to adjust, readjust or repattern their staff according to the norms prescribed by the NCTE but they have been asked to continue to follow the norms already prescribed and implemented by the Haryana Education Department. The NCTE should not adopt two different standards in dealing with teachers’ education in Haryana and Himachal.

Dr H.S. SINHA, Kurukshetra

Punjab ministers in Canada

MANY newspapers in Canada have carried the news about the illegal entry of four persons into Canada in the name of the Sikh religion. It has not only hurt the Sikhs but also given a bad name to the Punjab Government. A newspaper, The Province, has reported that one of the ministers, Mr Sohan Singh Thindal, has come to Canada fourth time and every time he has brought some people with him and charged Rs 8 lakh from them.

As a Sikh, I am very much concerned about this action of our ministers. I hope senior leaders will take strict action against these ministers or the NRIs in Canada will boycott all ministers coming from this government.

Moreover, the Punjabis should know that these ministers were regularly found drunk and doing all kinds of things in Vancouver while they were on the holy trip to promote the Sikh religion and represented the Punjab Government.

HARDEEP SINGH BAINS, Canada