Chandigarh: Sikh activist Surat Singh Khalsa who is on a fast-unto-death for the release of political prisoners, has moved Punjab and Haryana High Court, against his detention in his house. In his petition, Khalsa's counsel, ADS Jattana said the petitioner had virtually been placed under house arrest and the police wasn't letting anyone enter his residence. He explained the immediate reason to knock on the high court doors was the Khalsa's son-in-law's death. After receiving news of his murder in Chicago, grieving relatives and visitors were refrained from entering his house and meeting him.
Claiming that this was against his rights as an individual, the counsel said the police were not within their rights to isolate him, particularly when no proceedings were pending against him. The petition is expected to come up for hearing later.
Khalsa has been on an indefinite fast for more than 200 days to press for his demand for the release of prisoners, “irrespective of their religion”, languishing in the jails even after the completion of their sentence. Khalsa's lawyer is believed to have earlier sent a notice to the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner claiming that his client had been “illegally detained.” A clarification was sought whether Khalsa had been arrested. The lawyer has also warned of moving the high court and filing a petition against Khalsa’s “illegal detention.”
