With the active intervention of Baljeet Singh Bhasin -Sikh member of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and the local Sikh Sangat of Gulbarga, the 6 attackers of fork-lift driver Avtar Singh have been arrested.

With the active intervention of Baljeet Singh Bhasin -Sikh member of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and the local Sikh Sangat led by young activist Jasveer Singh Gulbarga, the leading 6 attackers of fork-lift driver Avtar Singh were detained today and an FIR lodged against them under Section 295A and Section 307 of the IPC.

As per police press release, Police Sub-inspector, Sedam P.S. is the investigating officer of this case and  senior police officers including the S.P. Kalaburagi have visited the spot of offence and the hospital. A case is registered in Sadam P.S.Cr.No.144/2018U/Sec.143, 147, 148, 341, 323, 326, 307, 504 R/W 149 IPC against six accused persons 1) Nagendrappa S/o. Sharanappa, Kalakamb, Age; 45 years, R/o. Kodla, 2) Bheemesh S.o. Maruti ilager, Age 25 years, R/o. Donagaon, 3) Saibu S/o. Mareppa Gounali, Age 29 years, R/o. Devanpur, 4) Saibu S/o. Tippannna Allur, Age 40 years, R/o. Devanur, 5) Laxman W/o. Nagappa Duganur, Age 28 years, R/o. Devanur and 6) Bhimashappa S/o. Nagappa Bulli, Age 45 years, R/o. Devanur, Tq: Sedam Dist. Kalaburagi. The accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

“I have been following the case as soon as we learnt it. We are one-up on the task and we assure everyone that justice will prevail.”

Baljeet Singh Bhasin, Member, Karnataka State Minorities Commission

Lean and soft-spoken Avtar Singh son of Prem Singh, presently residing at Shri Cements Factory was caught unawares by a mob when he went to to the market of Kodla village to buy groceries on the evening of 19 May 2018  in rural Gulbarga, and was mistakenly taken for a child-lifter and they removed his Kirpan and turban. Child-lifting rumours are playing havoc in rural Karnataka and the newly elected Chief Minister has issued public statements urging people not to be carried away with it. Many people of other castes and religions have also been attacked. However, the manner in which Avtar Singh was manhandled does not seem that the locals were acting totally out of fear. The police must investigate and get to the truth rather than jumping to a forethought surmised conclusion.

The police swung into action when the video and photos of the culprits dragging the lone Sikh went viral on the internet. Though the incident happened on 19 August, due to active intervention of the local Sikh community and Baljeet Singh Bhasin, the six accused were arrested. Speaking on the phone line from Gulbarga, Jasveer Singh said, “We are urging the police to arrest the person who is seen in the video making fun of the Kirpan. The police has assured us that they are on his trail and will soon arrest him.”

Just heard about mob attack on a Sikh in Gulbarga on suspicion of being child lifter following fake Whatsapp news. Request CM @hd_kumaraswamy ji to ensure stringent action against culprits, and full protection for Sikh community and their religious rights in Karnataka.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) May 29, 2018

Jasveer Singh told the World Sikh News that Avtar Singh father was with him in the hospital and he is now out of danger.  Full medical attention and care is being afforded to him and the Sikh Sangat is seriously pursuing the case. After basic treatment at the Government Hospital in Sadam, he was shifted to the United Hospital in Kalaburagi for further treatment.

“Avtar Singh is fine and his father is with him. He is out of danger. We are doing our best for his recovery as well as follow-up of the case with the police.”

Jasveer Singh Activist, Gulbarga

The police has claimed in their release that, “it is not proper to say that it was an international assault on a particular caste/community/religion or on a persons belonging to a particular caste.  The “Kirpan” of the victim seized after the incident, is in the custody of police. It will be handed over to the victim/complaint or anybody on his behalf on claim.

Gulbarga has a tiny Sikh population and is on route to Bidar Sahib and near to Takht Hazur Sahib as well. Sikhs and Sindhis cross through Gulbarga while visiting these historical centres of Sikh faith. The Parbandhak Committee Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Math of Gulbarga is liasing with the victim, his father and the police to ensure justice.

Speaking exclusively to the World Sikh News on the phone line from Bangalore, Baljeet Singh Bhasin said, “I have been following the case as soon as we learnt it. We are one-up on the task and we assure everyone that justice will prevail.” He further informed that from the mob, 6 people who attacked Avtar Singh have been arrested and a case of attempted murder under Section 307 has been lodged against them.

Baljeet Singh Bhasin clarified that the mob did not cut the hair as has been reported in a section of the media. His hair was cut by doctors as he had to undergo minor stitches on the head.

Baljeet Singh Bhasin and Jharkhand State Minorities Commission member Gurvinder Singh Sethi, who is on a visit to Bangalore, met the Karnataka State Minorities Commission Chairperson Naseer Ahmed and impressed upon him the need for swift action against the culprits. They were assured by the Chairperson that full justice will be done to Avtar Singh.

Gurvinder Singh Sethi in a  message to WSN has strongly condemned the incident and has said that he will pursue this at all levels to ensure that justice is done to Avtar Singh and his family.

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Everyone hopes that the present incident is actually a case of mistaken identity and not the beginning of hate crimes after the “almost won” defeat of the BJP in Karnataka.