Latest example of Indian police’s anti-Sikh torture globally condemned

Reports of a practicing Sikh man having his kes (unshorn hair) cut and having the word “criminal” branded with hot iron into his skin after being arrested have been globally condemned.

News of the torture first surfaced around 27.06.22, with reports stating Bathinda (Punjab) police had arrested Rajveer Singh, who fed back that he had been severely tortured and had his kes cut. The Sikh faith mandates keeping unshorn hair which is never to be cut in any circumstances. Note- some reports name the man as Rajpreet/Rajbir/Rajdeep.

Police of Punjab, many of whom self-identify as Sikh, would no doubt be aware of the value of kes but have historically carried out such actions to humiliate and torture Sikh detainees. Rajveer Singh is said to be Amritdhari (initiated Sikh), meaning he has committed to keeping his kes.

The mother of the detainee took forward his complaints of torture to local Sikh bodies after his arrest on 26.06.22, which is when reports started circulating about the incident. In one video taken by reporters that visited him in Bathinda central jail, attempts by bystanders to pull-up his shirt to show the branding he suffered on his back were stopped by officers in attendance. Rajveer Singh also attempted to show through his dastaar (Sikh turban) where his hair had been cut. However, various other signs of his torture, including deep bruising across his body, were evident.

In an extended interview with respected Punjabi Sikh journalist Jasveer Singh Mukstar, Rajveer Singh’s mother explains how her son was falsely imprisoned in the same way many Sikhs have been, with a random FIR (First Incident Report, police report which anyone can make, including officers themselves) being justification to imprison him for days, where he suffered the torture. It is unclear what the original FIR was about which led to Rajveer Singh’s arrest.

The incident follows a similar case of torture where a Sikh man had the word “terrorist” engraved in his back by jail staff in Barnala (Punjab). What is inciting the brutal levels of humiliation with the branding of prisoners is unclear, but seems to paint a picture of increased inhumane savagery of India’s authorities.

Punjab’s new Minister of Jails of the newly in-power Aam Aadmi Party Harjot Bains tweeted saying there would be an investigation into the incident. Faith in such investigations remain low, as incidents of anti-Sikh abuse in India and by Punjab authorities remain rife. Leading Sikh body the SGPC also released a statement (below) which said they will be pushing for “culprits” to be “punished” for the incident.

In a sign of India’s lack of press freedom (leading to the country being ranked 150 out of 180 countries for press freedom) the story is yet to be covered by any mainstream media, despite several Punjab based journalists covering the story.