Shri Swarn Singh son of Lal Singh, Aged 65 years, Sarpanch of Jafferwal
village: 4.5.1985
At first he was rounded up by the military on 17.6.1984 from his house
and sent to Torture Centre (Interrogation Centre) Government College,
Gurdaspur. He was tortured there mercilessly, he was blindfolded and his
hands tied behind his back. He could not identify who were beating him.
There was no case and no warrant of arrest and he was not produced in
any court. He was released after two days. Meanwhile Akali Dal had given
a call to liberate premises of Golden Temple and Morcha had to be
started from 17.7.1984 under section 107/151 IPC by the police and he
was kept in the Gurdaspur Jail for 15 days and then bailed out. Shri
Swarn Singh was again arrested on 29 August 1984 by the Dhariwal police
for 15 days and then bailed out after four days in unlawful custody.
After 4 days he was produced before the court u/s 107/151. court
released
him because he was already being prosecuted u/s 107/151 and this case
was still pending.
Thereafter he was again arrested on 4th September 1984 in a bus killing
case. Houses of 40 families were raided by the army and almost all the
residents in the village used to sleep outside the village to save
themselves from the military harassment. Military used to gherao the
village. The population of the village is about 6000.
He was again arrested on 28.3.1985 by CIA staff Batala and tortured in
the same manner: (1) Ghotna (2) Belna (3) 3rd method was that he would
be made to lie down on one side and the wood (Belna) would be kept under
his leg and would be rolled on one leg, then he would be made to lie on
another side and the same wood would be rolled again on the other leg.
This process would be repeated for some time. 4th method was that the
both legs would be torn apart and other men would sit behind the back.
Backbone/spine can be fractured in this process. No treatment is given.
Tissues are swollen and urines give blood and pus. Man becomes impotent.
This treatment is meted out to all.
Fifth method was Roud: Man is made to stand in attention and his hands
tied behind his neck on the back. He is made to stand for 3 to 3 half
hours and he cannot stand it and his whole sweat from his body goes out
and man cries for water.
Sixth method: Man is made to stand upright, his hands tied behind and a
rod is inserted in the tied hands and the man is hung in the door
through the door. Joginder Singh SI (a Sikh officer) did this. All the
eight officers who tortured were Sikhs. They did this under orders from
Suresh Arora, ASP, Batala.
The seventh method is that there used to be one feet high wood and about
7 to 8 men's feet were put on it in a row and another similar wood would
be kept over the feet and thus both the woods would be locked having
men's feet inside it and these men would be kept there lied down. This
wood was full of bugs who would continue to bite and it was very
difficult to sleep.
Swarn Singh was first taken to Dera Baba Nanak because they were afraid
of the High Court and thought that Harbans Singh who was doing his
Pairvi might go to High Court. Kuldeep Singh and Jarnail Singh were also
taken along with him. There was no FIR against them and they were never
produced in any court. They were in unlawful custody from 28.3.1985 to
5.4.1985. Water was not given to them.
During interrogation following question used to be asked: "You have fire
arms in possession."
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