KPS Gill’s death has evoked reaction from the entire Sikh world. The World Sikh Organization of Canada, continuing its sustained campaign for respect for human rights in the Punjab seeks a full scale inquiry into violations during the 80s and 90s of the last century.

Ottawa. Continuing its sustained campaign for seeking justice for victims of human rights violation of the Sikhs in Punjab and around the world, The World Sikh Organisation of Canada, formed after the storming of Darbar Sahib -the Golden Temple in June 1984, has called for a full commission of inquiry into human rights abuses that took place in Punjab in the 80s and 90s of the last century.

In a worldwide press release, commenting on the death of KPS Gill, WSO has said that, “The death today, of KPS Gill, former Director General of the Punjab Police during the 80s and 90s, marks the loss of an opportunity to pursue justice and accountability for the thousands of victims of police and state atrocities in Punjab. Gill lead a campaign of state-violence designed to crush militancy and dissent in Punjab in the early-1990s and was colloquially known by many as the “Butcher of the Punjab”.  Under his command, the Punjab Police and Indian security forces engaged in widespread abuses and operated with impunity.  He was implicated in the extrajudicial murders of several prominent activists, including human rights advocate Jaswant Singh Khalra.”

In 1995, WSO on two occasions hosted human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in Canada months before his involuntary disappearance and killing at the hands of KPS Gill-led police teams. During his meetings with Sikhs and Canadian parliamentarians, Jaswant Singh Khalra had pointed out first-hand, how he collected details of cases of Sikhs killed as “Unknown” in Amritsar and around.

““I felt betrayed by then PM Chandra Shekhar after 21 Khalistani militants I arranged to surrender were killed.” – Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister Punjab”

Taking seriously every word that emanates from the mouths of the powers that be in Punjab and India, the WSO statement alluded to the recent revelation of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who tweeted:  “I felt betrayed by then PM Chandra Shekhar after 21 Khalistani militants I arranged to surrender were killed.”

The statement said that the Chief Minister is not the only one. “Several prominent Punjab Police officers including Inspector Gurmeet Singh “Pinky”, former DGP S.S. Virk and sub-inspector (SI) Surjit Singh have come forward with shocking admissions of torture, fake encounters and illegal cremations of bodies, naming several current senior police officials.  None of these allegations have been investigated.”

““Healing is impossible without accountability and justice.” – Mukhbir Singh, President, WSO”

India’s National Human Rights Commission in 2012 ordered Rs.27.94 crore as monetary relief to families of 1,513 innocent people, extra-judicially killed while in Punjab police custody and illegally cremated.  No further investigation has taken place.

WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, “human rights abuses in Punjab during the 80s and 90s have not been adequately investigated or addressed.  KPS Gill was accused of perpetrating shocking human rights abuses, including the murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra.  His death means that we will likely never know the full extent of his involvement in these crimes. We believe it is essential that a commission of inquiry be established to investigate the abuses that occurred throughout Punjab. Police and administrative officials, guilty of such serious crimes against humanity must be held accountable.  Healing is impossible without accountability and justice.