People's Democracy

Arrest Jasveer’s Killer, Surjeet Asks Amrinder

WRITING to the Punjab chief minster Amrinder Singh on January 23, the CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet asked him to immediately arrest the main culprit in the murder of Jasveer of village Jahan Khela in Hoshiarpur district, for marrying outside his community. He has also asked for adequate compensation to his wife, Geeta Devi.

One will recall that the case was spotlighted by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). The text of the latter follows.

“I AM writing to you in connection with the case relating to the murder of Jasveer of Jahan Khela village, district Hoshiarpur. Jasveer was done to death on November 25, 2003 by people belonging to another community who were opposed to his marriage to a girl from their community. Jasveer had married Geeta Devi on September 26, 2003.

“On the day of the crime, at around 8.30 a m when Jasveer, his mother, brother and Geeta were waiting at the bus stop, a group of persons led by Prabhat Singh, who were opposed to this inter-caste marriage, attacked him and others. While others managed to escape, Jasveer was killed, and his left arm was cut off and thrown into the courtyard of his aunt’s house. A case in this connection was filed under Section 302/34 IPC vide FIR No 393 on 29.11.2003 at Sadar Police Station, Hoshiarpur. Though four of the accused were taken into custody, the main accused is still at large.

“The sarpanch, her husband and the vice-sarpanch all belong to the same community as the accused. They are pressurising the police not to arrest the main accused, Prabhat Singh. The police has failed to even move an application for attachment of property for failure of the accused to surrender.

“Jasveer was the only earning member of his family. Geeta Devi and her mother-in-law have been given two security guards as they are being threatened. But they have to pay for the food and other expenses of the deployed guards, which they find unbearable.

“Under these circumstances, I request that steps be initiated to immediately arrest the main culprit. Given the acute financial distress being faced by the family, I also request that adequate compensation be paid to the Geeta Devi.” (INN)