Punishment to Brar attackers too harsh, says Akal Takht

A United Kingdom court sentencing four attackers of Lt Gen (retd) Kuldip Singh Brar to imprisonment ranging from 10 to 14 years has not gone down well with the Akal Takht, which has condemned it as too harsh for “minor bruises” inflicted upon the former Army general. 

The court’s order has also raked up sentiments of various Sikh organizations including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Sikh religious body managing majority of Sikh shrines in the country and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), both terming it as unfortunate and harsh.

Akal Takht head priest Giani Gurbachan Singh said if there is this big punishment for minor bruises, then why the perpetrators of attack on Golden Temple have not been given any punishment. This is very condemnable, he said adding that this has hurt the feeling of Sikhs.

“SGPC would be directed to get in touch with UK government on the issue and do the needful,” Giani Gurbachan Singh said.

Lt Gen Brar, who played a key role in Operation Blue Star against Sikh militants in Amritsar in June 1984, was attacked while he was taking a walk with his wife Meena in Old Quebec Street in central London on September 30, 2012. He received knife injuries on his neck.

On Tuesday, a UK court sentenced all four accused –- Mandeep Singh Sandhu (34) of Birmingham, Dilbag Singh (37), Harjit Kaur (39) of London and Barjinder Singh Sangha (33) of Wolverhampton – to up to 14 years in prison for the offence.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar observed that the punishment was not justified and is unfortunate.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK said, “This is too harsh a punishment. It is like punishment for murder. The court should have taken into account the age of the accused. The DSGMC would provide all the legal help to the Sikhs who have been convicted”.

Giani Gurbachan Singh said that various Sikh organisations and members of the Sant Samaj had met him and expressed their displeasure over the harsh punishment handed out to those who allegedly attacked Brar in London.

Lt Gen Brar has welcomed the quantum of punishment handed out to his attackers.