Chairman's Letter 3
Sat Sri Akal,
I want to thank all the supporters that welcomed us with open arms in England, Canada and America. This was a very successful visit. The sangat was extremely helpful; from donating funds, computers, an ambulance, to volunteering their time, to identifying new project opportunities for Aapna Punjab. It was very encouraging to see that everyone wanted to be actively involved and be a part of our grass roots movement.
Besides continuing our on-going projects, I was advised to pursue additional projects like;
- Expand the Gurdwara Sudhar movement to continue to bring reform to the SGPC and also to exposing (some) Babas of Deras that mislead and hoodwink the sangat for their own personal gains. By the way, I want to remind you all that we were the first to ask the SGPC for accountability on the Poohla issue and demand Bibi Jagir Kaur’s resignation.
- Help in the marriage of the girls whose family were victims of the 84 riots and/or Police repression.
- Increase the fight against drugs and AIDS; for example in the ensuing elections make sure drugs and alcohol are not allowed to be distributed to gain votes. We will approach the EC and work with them in promoting (then enforcing) this change.
On the Poohla front, many people asked me what would happen if Poohla was released on bail, given he now has bail in two of the three pending cases? Well, we have several more cases that we intend to petition for a CBI inquiry. The most heinous crime that Poohla commited was the brutal murder of a family of seven in Khanpur. Details of the Khanpur case are provided on the opposite column. While an FIR was lodged for that case, the Police have failed to take appropriate action. Jaskaran Kaur of Ensaaf (a Human-Rights organization) and other human-rights activists, like NavKiran Singh of Lawyers for Human Rights International, have offered to help us in these unopened cases against Poohla.
I also want to highlight a recent tragic case of an young girl whose partents died of AIDS in Punjab. Aapna Punjab is going to help this girl monetarily and if you want to help this girl too, then please contact me. I have already got requests from people that not only want to help this child financially but also possibly adopt her. This case is just the tip of the iceberg and I again want to highlight the fact that an AIDS time-bomb is ticking away in Punjab and we must do more to help. I am actively seeking donations for building a sizeable modern hospital in District Amritsar that treats/rehabilitates AIDS and drug-addition victims.
And finally, I request all the supporters to come visit us in village Pahuwind and tour our various projects; like the school, computer labs, welfare centers, ambulance service and more. Village Pahuwind is located just 45 minutes from Amritsar city. There are plenty of historic gurdwaras en route, like Baba Bhudhaji in Chabbal, Baba Bidi Chand in Sursingh, Shaeed Bhai Taru Singh in Poohla and Shaeed Baba Deep Singh in Pahuwind. 
Thank you all again for your continued support and remember united we stand, divided we fall and together we will make a difference.
Regards,
Col G. S. Sandhu, Chairman, Aapna Punjab
Mobile: (+91) 9876169922
|
The Khanpur Murders
On June 1, 1991 at about 9:45PM, Poohla and his men fired indiscriminately from automatic weapons and also threw hand grenades, killing seven members of family, including the children of Mangal Singh and Bachan Singh. Those killed were Bachan Singh (45), his wife Darshan Kaur (35), his daughter Mangaljit Kaur (16), Mangal Singh’s wife Harjinder Kaur (30), his daughter’s Gurjant Kaur (8 months) and his son Yadvinder Singh (4). See pictures of the slain victims below. Only Mangal Singh and Bachan Singh’s son Ranjit Singh survived the massacre. While Mangal was working in Muscat at that time, Ranjit Singh was out in the fields.
These killings were apparently revenge killings by Poohla and his accomplices. Clearly this is the most heinous crime of all. Though an FIR was registered in the case in 1991 at the Beas Police station, the matter has so far been kept under the wraps due to Poohla’s influence and his links with top Police officials. The surviving members of the family were too scared to pursue the case because they had received threats and warnings from Poohla.
Human Rights organization, Ensaaf, has offered to help publicize and support Aapna Punjab during any litigation. Aapna Punjab will petition with the CBI to intervene as the Punjab Police have been dilly-dallying on this case for all these years.
Another equally heinous crime is that of Baba Reshman Singh and associates, which we will also petition for the CBI to intervene.
Pictures of the Khanpur muder victims
|
Aapna Punjab calls on you to help this poor 
