Gurpreet Singh GP

Expressing shock and anguish at the murderous attack on a Dalit youth in Tarn Taran on Wednesday, Punjab PCC president Captain Amarinder Singh today lambasted the Badal government for its abysmal failure in checking atrocities against Dalits in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Captain Amarinder Singh condemned the brutal torture of 20-year-old Dalit youth Amritpal Singh in Pakhoke village in Tarn Taran district as a glaring example of the Akali government’s apathy towards the Dalits and its inability to uphold the human rights of the downtrodden community.

Pointing out that four incidents of Dalit atrocity had taken place in the state in quick succession in recent weeks, Captain Amarinder said the Badal government’s failure to take suitable action against the guilty reflected a deep-rooted nexus between party leaders and the culprits.

He referred to the attacks on Dalit youth in Mansa and Sangrur to underline the glaring insensitivity of the Badal government towards the plight of the community, which was being increasingly marginalized in the state.

Pointing out that Amritpal was not only mercilessly beaten but was also stripped and paraded naked in the village, Captain Amarinder said his party will do everything in its power to bring the guilty to book. “We will not allow the guilty to go scot-free,” he vowed, declaring that all cases of atrocities on Dalits would be pursued once his party came to power.

Alleging total lawlessness and growing anarchy in the state under the Akali rule, Captain Amarinder said, “The shameful track record of the Punjab police in preventing crime against Dalits continued in this latest incident, with cops reaching the spot after more than an hour.”

Warning the Punjab police to stop acting as `Akali workers,’ the PPCC president said they would have to suffer the consequences of their actions otherwise.

Referring to the media reports that Amritpal was peacefully working at his cycle repair shop, when the armed accused came in an SUV and two jeeps, the Punjab Congress president said, "The victim was terrorised and he jumped in a nearby canal in order to save his life. But the accused showed no mercy and chased him out of the canal before stripping him naked and thrashing him mercilessly.” The condition of the youth, who was also paraded naked in the village, is critical.

Punjab Congress chief further said that Dalits in the state are feeling extremely insecure and fear for their safety under the SAD rule.

Captain Amarinder recalled that in the second week of October, 21-year-old Sukhchain Singh was brutally murdered in Mansa by Badal-controlled liquor mafia, while in another instance, a 28-year-old youth Manish Luthra was killed by a group of assailants belonging to the liquor mafia in Jalandhar.

The PPCC president also said that prior to these incidents, Dalits were targeted and attacked by upper caste landlords, supported by local SAD leaders, in village Jalaur in Sangrur. "Fearing for their lives, as many as two-dozen Dalit families fled the village. It is complete 'jungle raaj' and the Dalit community was being subjected to extreme harassment by the Akalis," rued Captain Amarinder Singh.

While promising complete protection to Dalits and other sections of the society, Captain Amarinder Singh said any incident of atrocity against a Dalit was against the basic tenets propounded by the Sikh Gurus.