Capt seeks Centre’s help, but has no data

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Though Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged the External Affairs Minister to help the 52 Indians, mostly Sikhs, detained as illegal immigrants at Oregon in the US, the state government does not have any data on such persons.

Capt Amarinder tweeted: “Like to bring this to your notice @SushmaSwaraj ji @MEAIndia and request your intervention regarding media reports of detention of Sikhs & other illegal immigrants held in allegedly inhuman conditions at the Oregon detention centre in the US and to provide necessary help.”

While the Centre is yet to respond, the state machinery began a process to identify the Sikh detainees. Unlike the case of nearly 40 persons who went missing in Iraq in 2014, the government has not established any control room where the families of the victims can approach.

Sources in the police said the issue of political asylum seekers was different from that of other persons stuck in a problem abroad. “Many of these persons may be wanted for some crime in India or can be sympathisers for a separatist movement,” a source said.

Home Department Secretary Kumar Rahul said the government had asked the Ministry of External Affairs to provide names and addresses of the Sikh detainees.

Sources said the phenomenon of Punjabis seeking political asylum was the byproduct of terrorism era in the 1980s and 90s. A number of persons, including genuine claimants, would seek such an asylum citing human rights abuse, fake police encounters and political witch-hunting in Punjab.

It was quite common to see notices in newspapers, especially vernacular, in which the applicants said they had no relation with certain Akali leaders (who were considered anti-Khalistani). Some alleged victimisation and prosecution for being supporters of SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann. They even submitted letters of recommendation by Mann in this regard.

CM on Twitter

Like to bring this to your notice @SushmaSwaraj ji @MEAIndia and request your intervention regarding media reports of detention of Sikhs & other illegal immigrants held in allegedly inhuman conditions at Oregon detention centre in the US and to provide necessary help.