Sri Akal Takht Sahib announces special ardas on July 14 at Harike for victims of fake encounters

PTC News Desk: Sri Akal Takht Sahib acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj announced that a special prayer gathering will be held on July 14 at Harike Pattan on the banks of the Sutlej river. The event will be commemorated in order to pay tributes to innocent youths who were subjected to police brutality and allegedly killed in fake encounters during militancy era in Punjab. 

The jathedar announced that the prayer gathering is being held for late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and all other departed souls who were killed at the behest of counter-terrorism operation and seek justice for their families. 

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said that, to this day, no collective prayer has been held for the innocent youths, women, elderly people, and children who were victims of alleged government and police excesses in Punjab. He said many mothers and sisters are still unaware of what happened to their sons and brothers. He added that it is important for the world to know what happened in Punjab and for the affected families to receive justice.

He invited all victim families, mothers, sisters, brothers, activists, lawyers, and human rights defenders to attend the gathering. The invitation also extends to those who suffered during and after the events of 1984, and for whose rights Jaswant Singh Khalra fought.

He further appealed to the families of those victims whose cases led to the conviction of police officers by the CBI court in Mohali to participate in the event. He urged everyone to come together to recite Gurbani, perform kirtan, and offer prayers for the peace of the departed souls, while praying to the Almighty to give strength to the affected families in their pursuit of justice.