After 17 years Ranjit Singh Gill alias "KUKKI" is not a free man

IT’S AN OUTCRY FOR JUSTICE ON HUMAN GROUNDS FROM EVERYONE WHO BELIEVE IN HUMANITY AND RIGHT TO LIVE FREE.

This blog is launched to share the story of a man who was once a shinning star and a promising young scientist but a political tragedy made him a “Sikh Activist” who took law in his hands and tried to fix the political system on his own. The young blood and the turbulent incidents of the time forced him to take the path of violence which put his whole life into jeopardy.

When he joined this movement he never thought of the consequences because at that time he was emotionally shattered and like many others he was hurt and felt like a refugee in his own country.

The country where he was born and dreamed to conquer the world like any other average Indian youth. The country where people from his community laid there lives for its freedom and dignity.The country which boasts of being the world's biggest democracy.

About Ranjit Singh Gill alias “KUKKI”

Ranjit Singh Gill alias "Kukki" is son of an eminent scientist, former Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University and Padam Bhushan (India’s third highest civilian award) Awardee Mr. Khem Singh Gill.

During his student years, Ranjit Singh had done his research under well-known biotechnologist Dr H S Dhaliwal. He had completed all the research work and had took the viva but before making the final submission, Kuki and his friend Sukhi had fled their homes.

What went wrong?

Ranjit Singh Gill was 24 when he was charged with the murder of Congress politician Lalit Maken and his wife Geetanjali in the aftermath of the 1984 riots. Ranjit Singh Gill was convicted to be a part of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan (BTFK) squad which killed the South Delhi MP and his wife at their Kirti Nagar residence in West Delhi on the morning of July 31, 1985.
At that time he was pursuing his MSc in Plant Breeding and Genetics at PAU and was about to submit his M.Sc thesis and he had a fellowship offer from Kansas State for his Ph.D.

Events that led Ranjit Singh to take this drastic step?

He was shattered to see the place which is considered the "VATICAN OF SIKHS" the holiest and the most respectable place for everyone from his community, being invaded, destroyed and plundered ruthlessely.

The aftermath of Operation Bluestar /1984 Riots shaked his soul and he felt like many others, being alienated in his own country.

In short the political tragedy of that time and the emotional outcry of his fellow believers forced him to pick up arms against the INDIAN STATE. The state which he loved for all these years, the state where he was born and enjoyed all the best things of life.

Lalit Makan, Cong. (I) Trade Union Leader and Metroplitan Controller at the time of 1984 riots was known to have played a major role in the massacre of more than 3000 people of a certain community to which Ranjit Singh belonged.

http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Religion-communalism/2003/who-are-guilty.htm

Gill after being wanted in connection with Makan’s murder moved to US in early 1986 where he was finally arrested in May 1987.

Gill was arrested by the US Police on May 14, 1987, where he stayed in a detention centre in New York for 13 years.

Recalling his stay in the American jail, Ranjit says:
“After our arrest in New Jersey in 1987, we were shifted to downtown Manhattan and were lodged in the 13-storeyed Manhattan Correction Centre. The unit, Nine South, close to the WTC, is meant to lodge prisoners for short durations. But we were kept there for over 10 years and did not get to see the sky. It was a jail within a jail. The bare, white concrete walls, and 8x10 feet cells tend to suck hope out from an individual. Mental isolation, which we were subjected to, was worse than physical torture. We were deprived of natural light and the air, too, was re-circulated. As a result we had skin eruptions. However, I shared my joys and sorrows with Sukhwinder, who was also lodged there.” “At times I was shaky. But I followed a daily routine of prayer and maintained my fitness. I also secured a 16-week Personal Trainer diploma in New York during my imprisonment.”

The extradition request by the Indian government was turned down three times.

Finally, in February 2000, Gill told the court to stop the proceedings and requested to go back.

May 7, 2000 Gill was brought to Delhi (India) following extradition from the US.

Gill’s Trial in INDIA

Gill was tried at the district courts at Tis Hazari in New Delhi and during the trial he was in jail.

There were several discrepancies in the case. Several witnesses were brought forth but only one, who was nine years old at the time of murder supported the prosecution versions.

The Bench rejected the argument that the witness was nine-year-old when the murder took place on July 31, 1985 and it was 15 years later, in 2002, that he identified Gill, raising doubts that he was tutored by the prosecution.

A person injured in the incident said that he had never seen him.

But he was given a life-sentence in February, 2003, (A sessions court sentenced Gill to life imprisonment for killing Maken and his wife).

His case for release was pending before the chief minister of Delhi since February 2003.

Gill after spending 17 years in US and Indian jails was granted bail in 2004 as an undertrial.

Gill was granted an interim bail under stringent conditions on account of his mother’s terminal illness.

After staying out of jail for 5 years and fighting his case he was awarded the life sentence again on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009.

March 16, 2009 Kukki surrenders in New Delhi

Kukki now plans to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court, and hopes for reprieve.

While out on bail, he had applied to the PAU to allow him make the final submission of his thesis. He is granted one semester’s time to submit his research work for securing the degree. The semester ends in June.

For the past five years, when he was out on parole, he had been taking out peace marches condemning terror attacks worldwide. Of late he had even started delivering lectures to different schoolchildren on the importance of peace and human values in life.

Gill had married Sarabjit Kaur five years ago. The couple has not planned children. They were waiting decision on the appeal.

Previously it took him 17 years to return home, now he is again in custody with a bleak hope of reprieve from the new life sentence that means another 14 years in jail.

I hope this story will not only give a message that violence is not the right path but will also create some wave for Ranjit Singh Gill so that this once misguided but now a reformed youth can be freed.

After reading this story if you feel that Ranjit Singh Gill is a victim of political tragedy that struck India and its Beautiful State PUNJAB in 1980s please join and support the cause by joining group at:http://www.facebook.com
(Seeking Release of Ranjit Singh Gill alias "KUKKI").

Friends join hands to send this message to our responsible leaders to free this victim of political tragedy.